NSW Government announces $2000 rebate to address ‘leading cause of death on farms’

The NSW Government is urging farmers to access a $2000 rebate for side-by-side vehicles which is a safer alternative to the traditional quad bike.

The NSW Government is urging farmers to access a $2000 rebate for side-by-side vehicles, joining more than 4000 customers who have decided to buy a safer alternative to the traditional quad bike.

Member for Dubbo, Dugald Saunders, was joined by Minister for Fair Trading Eleni Petinos at the Shanks Farm in Dubbo to make the announcement.

“It’s really good to be out here today at (the) Shanks farm … to talk about quad bike and side-by-side vehicle safety,” Ms Petinos said.

“We know that quad bikes and side-by-side vehicles are an extremely important way of life for our farmers here in Western NSW (but) we also know that unfortunately quad bikes are the leading cause of death and also serious injury on our farms.”

Between 2017 and 2021, there were 64 quad bike deaths across the state and in 2022, there has already been three casualties.

Ms Petinos said “that’s why the NSW Government is focusing on ensuring safety outcomes where possible in relation to these vehicles”.

Member for Dubbo, Dugald Saunders, and Minister for Fair Trading, Eleni Petinos, in a side-by-side vehicle in Dubbo. Picture: Aymon Bertah

The $2000 rebate will assist the purchase of side-by-side vehicles which are considered to be a much safer option than the regular quad bike and the cash incentive put up by the NSW Government will help farmers make the transition.

Ms Petinos implored farmers to look at purchasing the safety equipment “which is necessary in these environments”, including helmets, drones and also roll bars with further rebates available to eligible applicants.

The NSW Government will also be working with local schools, focusing on safety education for students over the age of 16.

“Hopefully that will help us to drive down the injury and death rate to zero because one life lost is one life too many,” Ms Petinos said.

“We want to make sure the main focus here is always safety.”

Mr Saunders, the Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for Western NSW, explained the NSW Government’s partnership with Tocal College, as a way forward in training younger people to be safer on farms.

Minister for Fair Trading, Eleni Petinos, farmer, Ben Shanks and, Member for Dubbo, Dugald Saunders at the Shanks Farm in Dubbo. Picture: Aymon Bertah

“There is now a clear pathway for training, we’re targeting local, rural and regional schools but also for groups that want to come together,” Mr Saunders said.

“So if (someone) has six mates that want to come together on their farm, we can do a training day with Tocal here on a property as well.

“(There’s) lot’s of opportunities for regional families and farmers to actively be involved and lots of opportunity for regional schools to actively be involved as well.”

In discussing alternatives from using a quad bike, Mr Saunders highlighted the use of drones as a way of keeping up to date with day-to-day activities on the farm.

“(It) is becoming far more normal as well, if it’s simple things like checking watering points or checking on stock that can be done with drones, there’s great incentives again to use drone technology,” Mr Saunders said.

“Keep it simple, stay in your slippers with a cup of tea in hand as you send the drone out.”

Mr Saunders urged people under the age of 16 to stop using quad bikes altogether because “the instability of a quad … is too dangerous”.

Farmers can check their eligibility and register for the rebate today by visiting www.nswfarmers.org.au