how old should a child be to sit in the front seat

In Australia, it’s less about “front seat privileges” and more about age bands and restraint rules.

Under 4: never in the front seat if the car has two or more rows.

4 to under 7: only in the front if every rear seat is already occupied by children under 7, and they must be in an approved booster/child restraint.

7 and over: legally allowed up front with the right restraint, but the back seat remains the safest spot until around 12 because airbags are designed for adult‑sized bodies.

Driving a single‑cab ute with no back seat? Different exceptions can apply—check your state rules and the airbag warnings before you play musical chairs.

Short version: if you want fewer arguments and fewer grey hairs, keep kids in the back as long as practical.