282 lives lost on Aussie farms in just five years

New statistics have revealed how many on-farm deaths and injuries have occurred since 2020, plus the major causes of them.

Tractor accidents have claimed the lives of 45 people on farms since 2020, plus causing a further 81 injuries. Picture: File (Mark Saunders)

Tractors, quad bikes and side-by-side vehicles have emerged as the most dangerous pieces of agricultural machinery, responsible for almost half of all on-farm deaths in the last five years.

The Rural Media Farm Injury Dashboard, a new development by AgHealth Australia as part of the Ag Safety Data Net project, has revealed the extent of on-farm fatalities and serious injuries across the nation dating back to 2020.

The statistics show there have been 282 farm deaths in the last five years with a further 768 injuries reported.

In Victoria there have been 61 deaths with a further 55 injuries while in NSW 78 fatalities were recorded along with 268 on-farm injuries.

Nationally, since 2020 tractors have accounted for 45 of the deaths plus 81 injuries while there have been 47 deaths and 225 injuries caused by quad bikes. A further 40 deaths and 41 injuries were caused by side-by-side vehicles.

Across Victoria tractors caused 9 deaths in the last five years with 12 injuries plus one death and four injuries in southern NSW.

There was also 8 quad bike deaths and 8 injuries in Victoria with 3 deaths and 4 injuries in southern NSW.

In the first half of this year there have been 17 farm deaths with 87 injuries recorded including 5 deaths and an injury in Victoria.

Farmsafe Australia executive officer Stevi Howdle said the statistics from the past five years show a “story of both challenge and progress”.

“We’ve seen movement in the numbers, including two years of significantly reduced fatalities, which is encouraging. But the rebound in 2024 has been a harsh reminder that this progress isn’t guaranteed and that safety requires constant focus,” she said.

“Tractors, quad bikes and side-by-sides are essential on many farms but they also account for nearly half of all farm fatalities since 2020.

“Safety isn’t just about machines, it’s also about mindset. Fatigue, rushing, and complacency often lead to decisions that cut corners or ignore warning signs.

“We need to build a culture where taking a moment to think twice, slow down, or ask for help is normal, because one slip in judgment is all it takes. Making safer choices, consistently, is what will change these statistics.”

Farmsafe Australia has received $2.5m in federal government funding for the next three years, but Ms Howdle said states and territories also needed to provide financial support.

“We also need every state and territory to come to the table with their own funding and support so that safety messages and resources reach farmers in every jurisdiction,” she said.

“Farm safety must be a shared national priority, from paddock to parliament, and that means investing at every level.”