Who’d be comfortable putting forklift driving in the hands of a teenager? Ah yes, the Prime Minister.

It’s a great pity that the forklift idea didn’t get off the ground and be stacked on to the shelf of can-do government.

For there was a national problem, vis-a-vis, not enough forklift drivers, thus jeopardising the very lifeblood of the economy, and there was a solution, put up with consultation with the transport industry. We employ 16-year-olds.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison didn’t immediately say: “No, that’s no good, that’s stupid, we can’t do that.” No, instead he said: “Why don’t I take it to the state premiers at national cabinet and see how it goes. That’s the can-do way.”

And those naysayers, those can’t-do premiers said: “Nah, don’t think so. You can’t be putting 16-year-olds behind the wheel of a forklift.”

Morrison came out of the meeting saying, “We agreed to proceed no further with the issue of 16-year-old forklift drivers … it is not something that we believe, collectively, something we should be pursuing at this time.”

Funny there should be a rider on the end of the sentence, “at this time.” No doesn’t mean no? Or perhaps he is just being a bit sloppy with his speech.

But then he was pretty tough before the meeting. “There are other changes that need to be made and they’re at a state level, and I’m continuing to pursue those with the states. There are changes that we need to make around the age of forklift drivers, to get quite specific.”

So, on one point he’s as tough as old leather (putting the stress on the states) about being unequivocal, then he’s a bit, well, floppy.

It’s hard to see how one could be anything but unequivocal about it.

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After all, Queensland, Victoria and NSW have said no to the idea of lowering the age from 18. Unions have slammed the idea. ACTU secretary Sally McManus tweeted: ‘‘It seems Scott Morrison could not convince Premiers letting children drive forklifts was a good idea. Every day he wants to announce something to make it look as though he is doing something. If he won’t get us RATs, just save us the stress and go on holidays.”

No equivocation there.

One wonders where the wriggle room was in any case. In the three states, forklift drivers need a “high risk work” licence. Forklifts aren’t exactly paperweights to move around. They weigh at least a couple of tonnes, with the capacity to carry that much, at least. One forklift website carries this warning:

‘‘Workers with an inadequate knowledge of a forklift’s load capacity are placing themselves and those around them at serious risk. Forklift operators should be aware of the following: The effects of a loads weight, shape and size on a forklift; The correct way that a load should be fitted; and the difference between the model number on the forklift and the forklift’s load capacity plate.’’

Who would be comfortable putting that responsibility in the hands of a teenager? Ah yes, the Prime Minister, who’d be OK taking it to the national cabinet.

To give the benefit of the doubt, it can’t be easy being a national leader in a pandemic. You have to show leadership beyond stashing away $16 billion for the next election and wearing a hi-vis jacket on the factory floor.

But then who knows, perhaps the election result will come down to another miracle? And all the speeches and throwing money around will mean nothing. Which, in an increasingly secular society, is all the more astonishing.

One thing that won’t be astonishing is the frequency with which thought bubbles will materialise and then disappear within the 24-hour news cycle. Because, after all, who but the most cynical believe voters have the memory of a flea?

Yes, Prime Minister.