While turning up at the ballot box is a chore or an activity taken for granted by some, for Iraqi-born Atyaf Awad it is a privilege.
“[I’ve] got freedom to voice who I think is going to be suitable for me … and the community,” she said.
“Someone who is going to benefit everyone, someone who’s going to actually put in the effort to make Australia even better.”
The 20 year-old immigrated with her family to Bundaberg, four hours north of Brisbane, in 2015, from Al Muthanna in Iraq.
“At first it was a big culture difference, a different language — none of us knew how to speak English other than, ‘Hi, how are you’,” she said.
After she became an Australian citizen last year, the 2024 Queensland election marks the first state election Atyaf has been able to vote in.
Atyaf Awad with the former Bundaberg mayor at her citizenship ceremony in January 2023. (Supplied: Atyaf Awad)
Women have been able to vote in Iraq since 1980.
In Australia, women over 21 have been allowed to vote since 1902, before the age was lowered to 18 in 1973.
First Nations men and women gained the right in 1962 after an amendment to the Commonwealth Electoral Act.
About 18,000 new Australian citizens enrolled to vote this year, joining a total of 3.68 million Queenslanders enrolled to vote in the 2024 state general election, according to the Electoral Commission Queensland.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) reported 73,000 first-time voters enrolled in Queensland from January 1 until October 5 this year.
Of those, 47,000 are people who have turned 18 and 18,000 became Australian citizens this year.
Another 207,000 people are young electors who voted in the 2022 federal election, but this is their first time voting in a state election.
‘Very important’ opportunity
Joao (Juca) Carlan grew up in Brazil, and moved to Australia in 2011 when he was 21 years old.
He became an Australian citizen four years ago, and now lives in Yeppoon on the central Queensland coast.
Saturday will also be his first time voting in a state election.
Joao Carlan will be voting in a Queensland election for the first time on Saturday. (Supplied: Joao Carlan)
“It’s a chance to have my say, it’s a reflection of our values and opportunity [to] shape our future here in Australia,” he said.
“It’s very important as a citizen.”
Joao Carlan and his family visited family in Brazil this year. (Supplied: Joao Carlan)
Juca said becoming a father had influenced his voting values.
He has been considering what the world will look like for his son, placing a value on “environmental policies”.
“It’s his right to have it free, and quality education here, and a functioning public healthcare system as well,” Juca said.
Atyaf Awad pictured with her university teacher, CQUniversity’s Luise Straker. (Supplied: CQUniversity)
As Atyaf prepares to cast her vote, she has considered issues including public hospital access, bulk-billing and reducing higher-education contribution scheme (HECS) interest in education.
“That’s one of the reasons why we came to Australia — safety, health system and education,” she said.
She said the political landscapes in Australia and Iraq were “two completely different territories”.
In Australia, where she feels her vote matters and is part of a safe democracy, she takes her opportunity to vote very seriously.
“I feel very grateful,” she said.
“Many other countries who are still developing, the women don’t have any rights to vote, to have jobs, driving.”
