Federal election: First time voters have their say

Around 440,000 new Australian citizens will cast their first vote this federal election, the Australian Electoral Commission says.

Manly resident Ms Hudson, who became a citizen in March this year, admits she's surprised by the lack of interest in politics among many Australians.

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In the UK voting is voluntary, but she said many of her British friends are passionate about having their say.

"Here it seems people are just obliged to do it," she said. "I find it a bit disheartening, I wish people would get engaged, even if they were just angry. It is really important to me, I do care a lot about voting."

Ms Hudson placed her portrait of Morrison in the streets of Manly to "get people talking", and expected it might be defaced or stolen, but instead people just turned it over.

"It's not a flattering painting, he looks suspicious, he's got a sideways glance," she said. "I wanted to see if it would start a conversation."

Ms Hudson's Manly hairdresser, Unique Hair, even hung the portrait in the salon, but the only reaction it received was from clients asking her to take it down.

Dee Why resident Ivana Hercekacova was born in the Czech Republic where voting is also voluntary.

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This will be the first election she's voted in after becoming a citizen in March, and she admits she hasn't taken a lot of interest so far.

"I'm not very informed about the election and will probably just follow the way my husband votes," she said.

Despite her lack of engagement during this election, Ms Hercekacova backs the idea of compulsory voting. "People can't complain at the end of the day, they voted them in," she said.

Australian-born Max Straetemans, 20, takes a keen interest in politics and is looking forward to casting a vote in his first federal election.

While the Elanora Heights resident hasn't narrowed down who he's voting for, he knows who he's not voting for.

"I like the policies of the candidate I'm interested in, and I'm disappointed by the lack of action of our current member and the party he stands for," he said.

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Mr Straetemans praised independent candidate for Mackellar, Dr Sophie Scamps, for her policies that appeal to young voters.

"I haven't seen a candidate like her that's so proactive, and I feel like she's understanding young people and their concerns," he said.

Zoe Coles, is another Australian-born first-time voter, and she's been looking for the policies amid the slogans in her electorate of Mackellar.

"I'm voting for independent Dr Sophie Scamps. I'm really fed up with Liberal inaction and I'm interpreting it as a disrespect for young people because it's our future," she said.

Ms Cole is so passionate about politics that she recently volunteered at Dr Scamps' rally in Avalon, and had enrolled to vote when she was 16 years old.

"It was really tough being a young person and seeing all these decisions being made for me," she said.

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