Teen launches petition to LOWER driving age to help boost job prospects for young Aussies

There are renewed calls to lower the legal driving age in Victoria after a petition proposing the change gained huge support but was shut down by the government.

‘How come in every state in Australia you can get your license at 17 except Victoria which is 18? Let’s make a new petition,’ a video posted to TikTok on Saturday by user george_bushmechanics said.

Under Victorian laws a person needs to be 18-years-old to apply for their P-plates, while in other states and territories it is 17 with the exception of the Northern Territory which is 16 and six months.  

The video has sparked hundreds of comments with debate over whether the move would be a good idea. 

‘Of course this exists when I turn 18 in two months,’ one person said.

‘No I waited until I was 18 and so should everyone else,’ argued another.

‘I don’t want 17-year-olds driving around,’ a third agreed.

‘My cousin is in Victoria and I’m in Western Australia – I got my license before him and he’s older than me,’ added a fourth. 

In 2017, the Victorian roads minister knocked back a parliamentary committee recommendation that the driving age be lowered. 

The push was sparked by a Change.org petition started by then teenager Khalid Issa which gained more than 30,000 signatures.

‘Not being able to get your P-plates until you are 18 years old is a huge disadvantage to many Victorians,’ Mr Khalid wrote.

‘We cannot start working in workplaces that require personal transport, this leaves a lot of young people unable to begin their career until they are 18.’

The Victorian government is also considering raising the age limit the drivers need to completed 120 hours of supervised driving from 21 to 25 (stock image) 

A petition (pictured) to lower the P-plate age gained 30,000 supporters but was shut down by the government

Mr Khalid said he had personally met many young people who were looking for apprentice tradie work but were being refused because they couldn’t drive. 

‘I myself am in this situation right now, I have employers contact me telling me that they cannot hire me because I don’t have a drivers license.’

Mr Khalid also pointed out that public transport in Victoria was ‘unreliable’ which would be even more so currently with Covid restrictions. 

The government slapped down the petition despite the parliamentary committee recommendation – which also suggested P-platers be banned from driving at night or with passengers – saying it could increase the state’s vehicle death toll. 

A new parliamentary committee reccommendation – which is being considered by the Andrews Government – wants to raise the age limit to 25 for learner drivers to complete 120 hours of supervised driving.

Currently Victorians over 21 don’t need to complete the supervised hours to get their P-plate license.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) briefly suggested letting 16-year-olds drive forklifts earlier this month

Last week, The Prime Minister backed down on his proposal for 16-year-olds to work as forklift drivers, following a national cabinet meeting. 

It was revealed on Thursday morning that Scott Morrison and the Premiers were planning to consider a push for children to drive forklifts amid Covid-related workforce shortages.   

Mr Morrison took the plan to today’s national cabinet meeting with state and territory leaders – but the country’s leaders agreed not to push ahead with it.

‘We agreed to proceed no further with the issue of 16-year-old forklift drivers,’ Mr Morrison said. 

‘We had a good discussion about (it) today and (it) is not something that we believe, collectively, that is something we should be pursuing,’ he said.