Forrest Gumpp,
You can check this with the AEC. I was of the opinion that a 17 year old could register to vote but not be eligible until 18. Bit like someone applying for the age pension before they turned 65. I may well be wrong.

I also wonder how much proof of idenity one needs to register to vote. Still does not overcome impersonation of voters by others at polling places.

Hansard 3-3-1898 Official Record of the Debates of the National Australasian Convention (Chapter 33 of the CD)
Mr. BARTON (New South Wales).-The suggested amendment would simply go to this extent: That if the Parliament of the Commonwealth wish to make a uniform suffrage, it would be of necessity that that suffrage should be an adult suffrage-that is to say, that it should include womanhood suffrage-and that, until the Parliament of the Commonwealth so legislated, the existing legislation of any colony would be preserved, together with such extension, but not beyond adult suffrage, as might be established. I think, on the whole, that I might consent to that amendment. I therefore withdraw my own amendment and accept this.
And
Mr. BARTON.-Is not the right process to alter the word "qualification" to "right"?
Mr. KINGSTON.-Qualification means registration.
Mr. BARTON.-If the person has a legal right, he has to retain that legal right. Supposing he lost the legal right, but in some mysterious way retained the qualification, it is not intended that the law should help him? It is only intended that the law should help him if he has a legal right. I should say that, unless there is some reason given for what we did in Adelaide, which I do not recollect at this moment, the word "right" would be the proper word to use.
Mr. ISAACS (Victoria).-In our Electoral Act a difference exists between the right to vote and the qualification. A man is qualified to become an elector.
Mr. KINGSTON.-This is a limitation on the right to vote

Mr. ISAACS.-A man is qualified to become an elector. He has not the right to vote until certain conditions are fulfilled; he may have to register, or be may be struck off the roll through some accident. His right to vote is gone through some accident, but his qualification continues. He is a person whose right would not be preserved under this clause, because it applies to the individual-the elector.
Mr. BARTON.-If he loses the right in his own state by his own negligence, is it not right that he should lose the right also in the Commonwealth?
Mr. ISAACS.-He may lose it without negligence; he may lose it without any fault of his own. That has been the case with tens of thousands in Victoria.
Mr. DOBSON (Tasmania).-I was going to put the converse case. In Tasmania, and I suppose in every colony at every election, there are a number of persons whose names are on the roll, but who have lost their qualification. As our Electoral Act makes the roll the evidence of the qualification, you find a number of men who have sold their property to somebody else whose names remain on the roll, but who have lost their qualification, while the name of a man who has bought a property just after the roll has been made up, although he has the qualification, is not on the roll. I think we ought to consider whether the word "qualification" is to remain in the clause, because you may have a number of persons on the state rolls who have lost their qualifications, and who therefore, under this clause as it stands, would not be able to vote in the Commonwealth, but they would have a vote in the state. You will have a roll which governs all state elections, but which does not apply to Commonwealth elections, and you will have to direct an officer to go through the different state rolls, and see whether a man is entitled to vote for the Commonwealth, if you keep in the word "qualification.

I thought this was interesting. It would be good to see it on our ballots with mandatory voting. It would give a value to a vote other than withholding or choosing one of several evils. :-)

http://www.local6.com/problemsolvers/12933300/detail.html

Might even get the politicians asking questions concerning their own behavior? Maybe? :-)