Scott Morrison proposal to allow under-18s to drive forklifts catches states by surprise

Victoria, NSW and Queensland say there are no plans to lower age, which PM had said was among proposals to ease supply chain workforce shortages

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A proposal by the prime minister, Scott Morrison, to allow children to drive forklifts appears to have caught the states by surprise, with the Queensland, Victorian and New South Wales governments saying they have no plans to lower the current age of 18.

Unions have also criticised the proposal, saying forklifts are dangerous machines that require skilled operation.