Another thing about these sadly dumb youngsters: their 'helicopter' parents are now hovering over universities as they did when their kids were at primary and secondary school and, for heaven's sake, they are even interfering in their workplaces, according to my daughter, a senior executive. By the time they start working, they still haven't developed the social skills necessary to deal with problems at work, and Mummy or Daddy have to bail up the people providing them with jobs.

Paul,

you would then have blocked Bob hawke from voting if he had not passed away.

Auden, I have yet to meet the 16 year old who understands economics on a community scale. Most have problems understanding even personal fiscal responsibility.
As for lawbreaking, I wonder how much experience you have with juvenile criminals. Home invasions, sexual assault, stealing and burning cars and scooters, Throwing bricks at passing cars, knocking down old ladies to snatch handbags. All common occurrences where I live. Committed by kids 16 and younger. Do you really want those 16 year olds in an adult prison?

Hey Big Nana,

"Do you really want those 16 year olds in an adult prison?"

Yeah, why not?

After all if you're the victim, what does it matter if you were carjacked by a 16 year old or a 20 year old anyway?

Kids are doing stuff adults would get years in jail for and both society and the law is turning a blind eye to it.

And what happens when someone gets run over and killed?
Or someone else's kids get run over and killed?

Then it will be plastered all over the news.

- The Horror -

But it won't be a tragedy.
It's incompetence on a policy level.

They're empowering these kids to do whatever they want with little or no consequences, and by the time they're legal adults they're already well and truly hardened criminals.

When they start bringing harm upon the rest of society something has to change.

I didn't known my test question would be so difficult for the crusty old conserves, but it is! Yuyutsu no probs with the non English speaking voters, we'll have them sing 'Advance Australia Fair' second verse of course, and with Little Johnny Howard being the judge, should they get one word wrong, then its OUT The DOOR! No vote for you mate!

Dear Paul,

«I didn't known my test question would be»

Should be "know", not "known", verb, not adjective.

«then its OUT The DOOR»

"it is" or "it's" with an apostrophe for short - "its" means "which belongs to it".

And I do actually come from non-English-speaking background.
I bet I sang the second verse of "Advance Australia Fair" more times than you, in choir - I wish more Australian-born people knew this relatively-unknown verse.