Vic announces $6m quad bike safety subsidy

Farmers in Victoria will be able to access up to $1200 from the state government to install crush protection devices on their ATVs or buy a safer alternative vehicle under a new quad safety rebate package unveiled on July 22.

The $6m platform was announced by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews at the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) conference in an attempt to reduce the number of casualties on farms caused by quad bike accidents.

"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," Andrews said.

"This is about saving lives and we encourage every eligible farmer to make use of this rebate and stay safe."

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Marnie Williams says the scheme is in line with WorkSafe’s decision earlier this year to include appropriately fitted rollover protection devices to its list of approved safety measures aimed at reducing the risks associated with quad bike use.

"This rebate scheme is designed to encourage farmers to fit an appropriate rollover protection device, or consider buying another vehicle so that they, their families and their workers can stay safe," she said.

"We have no doubt that this will save lives."

NSW recently launched a similar rebate scheme.

Under the Victorian initiative, eligible farmers will be offered up to $600 each for up to two quad bikes to fit rollover protection, or $1200 towards the cost of buying a more appropriate work vehicle.

The rebate will be available to businesses which have no more than 19 employees, and where agriculture is their primary source of income. Farmers with no employees will also be eligible if they are based in Victoria and agriculture is their primary source of income.

The rebates will be offered on a first-come first-served basis.
WorkSafe Victoria and the Victorian Farmers Federation are working through final details of the scheme, which will begin later this year. It will be administered by the VFF.

WorkSafe will also be launching a major public awareness campaign in regional Victoria soon to warn of the risks associated with using quad bikes in the workplace.