AgForce calls to dump ATV roll bars, replace with national licence scheme

Queensland’s biggest farm lobby group says national licensing of all quad bike riders will save more lives than mandatory roll bars, and is campaigning to dump the law.

No campaign: AgForce says quad bike training and licences will do more to save lives than roll bars.

NEW laws demanding the mandatory fitting of roll bars to all new quad bikes from October next year should be dumped and replaced with a national learner training and licence scheme for all riders, says AgForce.

Queensland’s peak farmer lobby group has joined Japanese quad bike manufacturers and most of Australia’s 380 motorcycle dealers in a campaign to dump the new federal laws.

AgForce’s position sits at odds with the National Farmers Federation, which in July last said its members had backed mandatory operator protective devices (OPDs).

But when contacted by The Weekly Times this morning AgForce’s Safety and Workforce Policy office confirmed its members opposed mandatory OPDs and were instead advocating for compulsory training and licences for quad bike riders, which it believed was a better way to reduce farm deaths and injuries.

“AgForce is opposed to mandatory OPDs on quad bikes and recommends that they be considered by each individual as part of a suite of safety measures that includes training and education,” AgForce chief executive Michael Guerin said.

“AgForce believes mandatory training and licences for quad bike riders would have a far greater benefit than mandatory OPDs, which in some contexts can actually reduce safety.

“Any training and licence scheme should recognise prior learning to ensure experienced riders can undertake a simple test to prove competency.

The AgForce policies align with those being pushed by Save the Quad Bike in Australia founder and Dalby motorcycle dealer Craig Hartley, who said the lobby group was not only supporting the position, but lobbying other farmer groups.

AgForce confirmed it had approached the NFF on the issue.

Mr Hartley said: “We’re all for a licensing system, especially for workers, where you could book on line to get your learners.”

He said the scheme could be modelled on the existing Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme, with online booking to get a permit, followed by certification training.

Quad bike manufacturers Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki have already announced they will be withdrawing from the Australian market, rather than fitting OPDs.

Honda and Yamaha led the campaign opposing the mandatory fitting of OPDs, which ultimately failed after the Federal Government announced it would adopt an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recommendation to make them mandatory.