Western Australian children are being sounded out for their opinion on the voting age, in stark contrast to most decisions that are made on behalf of children without consulting them.

The survey launched Thursday by WA Commissioner for Children and Young People, Arrernte/Warramungu woman Jacqueline McGowan-Jones, comes after Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People in Victoria, Meena Singh told National Indigenous Times more children needed to be listened to during policy making.

The office of the commissioner visited towns in the north of WA, including Port Hedland, Karratha, and Newman, and heard from students and children.

The survey asks since 16-year-olds can work, drive, and pay taxes, "should they have the right to vote?"

Furthermore, it asks: "Climate change, renewable energy, human rights affect us all and what we decide today impacts young people's future – should they be able to have a say?" and "Should 16-year-olds have the option to vote and when they turn 18 the vote becomes mandatory?"

The survey is open to children nationwide.

Commissioner McGowan-Jones said her role was about talking to children and understanding what was important to them.

"When I've been speaking with young people recently, I ask them what the most important issues to them are and how they would like to be involved in resolving them. A recurring request has been the ability to vote," she said.

"We are asking them if they want to be involved in the voting process and if so, what their preference would be."

In WA, children as young as ten can be incarcerated, and there is widespread conversation politics nationally about banning the use of social media for children under 16-years-of-age.

However, children are not consulted on these issues, but often bear the brunt of their impacts—even if they are largely detrimental.

"Lowering the voting age went to the Australian Parliament in 2018 and 2021. The results of a Victorian poll in 2020 indicated that three in five young people wanted to vote," Commissioner McGowan-Jones. "To my knowledge, there has been no survey asking what Western Australian young people think."

"I encourage parents, guardians, teachers, and others who work with children to share the survey with children – it's quick, simple, and easy to complete.

"I look forward to hearing the views of our children and young people and sharing their ideas."

The survey can be found online.