Education and rebates putting an end to death rates

NSW farmers can now receive a $2000 rebate on side-by-side vehicles and quad bikes to provide safer options when farming.

Fair Trading Minister, Eleni Petinos, in Dubbo to announce the initiative last week, said further rebates were available to farmers and rural businesses who undertook an eligible Safework training course.

“We know they are an important way of life for our farmers here in Western NSW, but unfortunately, quad bikes are the leading cause of death and serious injury out here on our farms,” Ms Petinos explained.

Using the $2000 incentive, farmers are encouraged to purchase safety equipment including, helmets, drones and roll bars.

Focusing on further safety procedures, the government is working with local schools to implement safety classes for students aged 16 and over.

“Hopefully this will help us drive down the injury and death rate to zero – one life lost is too many,” Ms Petinos told Dubbo

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Agriculture Minister and Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders, said that by providing an incentive to farmers ensures the opportunity to use protective gear.

“The use of drones is becoming far more normal for farmers, so it is the simple things, like checking on water or stock from a drone,” he continued, saying that by utilising drone technology it is a way forward to prevent further accidents.

Local and regional schools are providing training courses for students 16 years and older, educating them on the technicalities of managing a quad bike.

“The way forward is to train our younger people,” Mr Saunders said, adding that children under the age of 16 are advised not to ride quads as they are unstable vehicles.

“This course will give clear instructions around how to manage vehicles and utilise equipment, like roll over bars, and give simple techniques on balance, not going under low trees and riding on slopes.

Mr Saunders said the one-day can also be done on private properties with a group of six.

“The feedback has been really good so far. Programs like this have run recently and I think anywhere where there is an incentive for farmers and farm works is always worthwhile,” he added, saying quad bikes are a useful tool for the farming industry but need to be refined.

“There are too many people ending up with a quad bike on top of them, leg and head injuries, and unfortunately deaths,” he said.