The State government has announced a $6million subsidy scheme for farmers to make their quad bikes safer.
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Addressing the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) conference, Premier Daniel Andrews said the scheme would provide rebates to farmers, to either fit rollover protection devices on existing quad bikes or help them purchase an alternative safer vehicle.
“Too many Victorians have died or have been seriously injured using quad bikes and that’s why the Labor Government is taking action to protect our farmers,” Mr Andrews said.
“This is about saving lives and we encourage every eligible farmer to make use of this rebate and stay safe.”
Last year, 22 people died in quad bike incidents in Australia.
In Victoria, two farmers have died on farms in the past three months,after being crushed when their quad bikes overturned.
Eligible farmers will be offered up to $600 each for up to two quad bikes to fit rollover protection (known as an operator protection device or OPD), or $1200 towards the cost of buying a more appropriate work vehicle.
It is estimated that more than 5000 farmers will receive the rebate over the two-year life of the scheme, which will be managed by WorkSafe Victoria and the VFF.
The Premier said the rebate supported a recent decision, by WorkSafe, to include appropriately fitted rollover protection devices on quad bikes to its list of approved safety measures to help drive down workplace fatalities and injuries.
WorkSafe was expected to shortly release a major public awareness campaign in regional Victoria on the risks associated with using quad bikes on farms.
Eligible farmers will be offered up to $600 each for up to two quad bikes to fit rollover protection (known as an operator protection device or OPD), or $1200 towards the cost of buying a more appropriate work vehicle.
It is estimated that more than 5000 farmers will receive the rebate over the two-year life of the scheme, which will be managed by WorkSafe Victoria and the VFF.
