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.

Licence call: Queensland’s peak farmer lobby wants national training and licencing of quad bike riders, rather than mandatory roll bars.

NEW laws that stipulate all new quad bikes must be fitted with roll bars from October next year should be dumped and replaced with a national learner training and licence scheme for all riders, according to one state farmer body.

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

“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.”

AgForce policies align with those promoted by Save the Quad Bike in Australia founder and Dalby motorcycle dealer Craig Hartley, who said the scheme could be modelled on the existing Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme, with online booking to get a permit, followed by certification training.

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

pocket toon the weekly timeschris rule

AgForce’s position sits at odds with the National Farmers Federation’s policy of supporting mandatory roll bars.

It also goes against leading farm safety advocates, who warned AgForce’s push to dump roll bar laws and adopt a national licencing scheme was fraught with danger for farmers.

The alliance of Farmsafe Australia, the Country Women’s Association of Australia, Rural Doctors Association of Australia, the National Rural Health Alliance, and the Royal Flying Doctors Service issued a joint statement this week warning AgForce’s policy would “shift the compliance burden off manufacturers, and on to farmers – without any guarantee of preventing fatalities.

“The idea of national licencing raises several red flags,” the alliance stated. “How would this be implemented and enforced? And where is the evidence it would be effective?

“With changes to industrial manslaughter laws looming large, it’s a fraught idea to say the least.”

The Alliance argued the evidence could not be clearer: “OPDs save lives”, given half of the 14 lives lost in 2020 were the result of rollovers.

Quad bike manufacturers Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki have already announced they will be withdrawing from the Australian market, rather than fitting OPDs, driving dealers to campaign against the new laws in a bid to save their livelihoods.

OPEN LETTER

The following is an open letter from Farmsafe Australia, CWA of Australia, Rural Doctors Association of Australia, the National Rural Health Alliance, and the Royal Flying Doctors Service.

VERY few country people would not know someone who has had a near miss, a serious injury, or even lost their life while using a quad bike. Already this year, 14 people have died. We know that half of all quad bike fatalities result from a rollover, and evidence clearly shows that operator protection devices (OPDs) can reduce this toll. Some manufacturers have embraced this life-saving change. Others, to their shame, have sought to bully and mislead their way out of shouldering this small cost. We know quad bikes are a critical tool for farmers. As a group, we remain committed to ensuring they are a safe and viable option well into the future. Our position is backed by evidence, and it’s one that will save lives. A proposal for national licencing raises serious questions about implementation, efficacy and enforcement. It would shift the liability from manufacturers to farmers – at a time when industrial manslaughter laws loom large. Now is not the time to stray from the path recommended by the experts.