Quad bike crisis

WHILE the headlines of all the newspapers relate to the virus, the number of deaths in Queensland in the last six months relating to a farmer being pinned or trapped under their quad bike is more than COVID-19.

So what is more dangerous? COVID19 or Queenslanders driving their quad bikes? The quad bike wins by a mile.

Other states in Australia have taken drastic action and enforced the fitting of government-approved operator protective devices, which are now going to be legislated by the Federal Government in 2021, but what is Queensland’s WorkSafe doing to reduce the carnage?

Nothing? Perhaps it’s the cosy, pillow talk, and personal relationship that WorkSafe has with the motorbike industry.

Over 50 per cent of deaths over this period in Australia are from Queensland.

Maybe I should self-isolate from my quad bike.

Sarah-Rachel Jones, Yungabarra 1947: Thor Heyerdahl and the crew of the Kon-Tiki crash into a reef in the Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia after 101 days crossing the Pacific Ocean. 1954: Englishman Roger Bannister beats Australia’s John Landy (above, with Landy left) in the mile at the Empire Games in Vancouver; first time two men run a mile in less than four minutes in the same race.

1955: Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering, the precursor to Sony, begins selling its first transistor radios in Japan.

1990: US deploys troops to Saudi Arabia beginning Operation Desert Shield.

1992: The Orlando Magic signs NBA No. 1 draft pick Shaquille O’Neal.

Birthdays: Greg Chappell, Australian cricketer (1948-); John Birmingham, Australian author (1964-).