A $2 MILLION NSW government package for quad bike safety improvement rebates has been welcomed by a NSW Farmers spokesperson who say farmers need to act now to re-assess their own use of quad bikes on farms and consider adopting one or more of the recommended safety improvements offered as part of the government support package.
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The funds have been made available in the upcoming budget by the government working closely with SafeWork NSW to develop the rebates program.
NSW Farmers industrial relations chair, Richard Chamen said NSW Farmers continues to be concerned by the high number of fatalities and serious injuries suffered on farms from quad bikes.
“In 2015, we had 22 fatalities in Australia and 15 of those occurred on farms,” Mr Chamen said.
“Every fatality is indicative of the hundreds of injuries related to quads,” he said.
He said while quad bikes are an important part of farm work, they are also the leading cause of deaths on farms.
“Many farmers have either experienced a quad bike related injury or know someone who has had quad bike related injury,” he said.
“There are limitations to quad bike use and if you don’t take precautions and operate with care, it can turn dangerous very quickly,” he said.
Mr Chamen said NSW Farmers was keen to participate in the tender to administer the rebate. The rebates package will be available for farmers from July 1 onwards.
