Quadbike call: Farmers, community groups want ATV OPDs mandatory

The National Farmers Federation is leading a coalition of 13 farmer, medical and community groups calling on the Federal Government to make operator protective devices mandatory on quad bikes.

Lifesaving call: The nation’s farm leaders are calling on the Federal Government to quit stalling and make quad bike operator protective devices mandatory. Picture: Supplied

A COALITION of the nation’s leading farmer, medical and community groups has called on the Federal Government to quit stalling on adopting the consumer watchdog’s recommendation to fit all new quad bikes with operator protective devices.

“We are at a loss to understand why the Government won’t introduce this simple change to save lives,” National Farmers Federation president Fiona Simson said.

“Since 2001 more than 230 Australians have died in quad bike related incidents. More than half of these deaths were a result of a quad bike rollover and crushing or asphyxiation, which OPDs prevent.

“Either the Government doesn’t think the many lives lost warrant taking action or there are other factors at play,” Ms Simson said.

In a statement released late yesterday the NFF called on the Government “to explain why it continues to delay direct action to improve quad bike safety.

“Already this year, seven Australians, including children, have lost their lives in quad bike accidents.

“Despite the horrifying statistic, the Government is stalling on implementing the mandatory fitting of operator protection devices to all new quad bikes within two years.”

The coalition led by the NFF includes the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, Royal Flying Doctor Service, National Rural Health Alliance, National Rural Women’s Coalition, Country Women’s Association of Australia, Australian Workers Union, National Centre for Farmer Health, AgForce, NSW Farmers, Victorian Farmers Federation, Primary Producers South Australia and WAFarmers.

The group’s call for action follows the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission 18-month investigation into quad bike safety, which involved widespread public and industry consultation and attracting 119 submissions.

The ACCC lodged what was meant to be its final report with the Federal Government in February, recommending the mandatory adoption of OPDs to all new quad bikes.

But key safety industry sources said Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack immediately put pressure on the consumer watchdog to abandon the OPD recommendation, in response to lobbying from Japanese quad bike manufacturers opposed to the safety measure.

The ACCC resisted the pressure, with its full report, including the OPD recommendation, released to the public by then Assistant Treasurer Stuart Robert on April 6.

However Mr Robert refused to adopt the watchdog’s recommendations, referring the matter instead to another round of public consultation, which was not completed until June 10.

The new round of consultation gave the Japanese manufacturers Honda and Yamaha the opportunity to launch a “ban the bar” campaign.

As part of the campaign both manufacturers threatened to withdraw from the Australian market if the ACCC’s recommendation was adopted, urging Australia’s motorcycle and agricultural machinery dealers to lodge submissions with the ACCC opposing OPDs.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries has also been working behind the scenes, calling on farmer groups, Ministers and regional MPs to oppose OPDS.

ATV MANUFACTURERS DISTORT QUAD BIKE DEATHS IN FIGHT AGAINST ROLLBARS

Transport safety researcher Keith Simmons said Yamaha and Honda feared they would face crippling or bankrupting lawsuits if the families of the dead, or those who have survived with life changing and lifetime care injuries ever find out there is a safety solution to rollover crashes and the industry have denied it from the quad bike user.

Ms Simson said the Federal Government needed “do little more than tick a box”, to see the ACCC’s OPD recommendation enacted.

“By not taking action, they may think they are responding to concerns about the supposed risks associated with OPDs and the impact on quad bike values,” she said.

“But these ‘concerns’ have been seeded by the manufacturers who are simply advancing their own interests. Not one of the ‘excuses’ advanced by the manufacturers withstand scrutiny or trump the risk of death and crippling injury.

“To not act on the advice of the ACCC and the calls from the many organisations speaking out today is a slap in the face to rural and regional Australia and our most important asset – our people.

“We are calling on the Government to step up and show leadership on what is an issue of the utmost seriousness,” Ms Simson said.