The Weekly Times reported recently that Victorian farmers will continue to foot the bill for ATV safety measures despite NSW’s decision to offer financial assistance.

The NSW Government last week announced a $2 million program aimed at reducing ATV deaths in NSW, with a cash rebate of $500 being made available to NSW farmers. NSW Farmers will administer the rebate, which will be available from mid-July.

The Victorian Government remains coy on whether it will match NSW, even though it has effectively made crush protection mandatory. A spokesman for Victorian Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford said there was no commitment to rebates yet, with any decision “still going through consultation with WorkSafe”.

“WorkSafe is consulting stakeholders, including farmers’ representatives, and following this consultation, the Government will consider the best overall strategy to keep Victorians safe,” the spokesman said. The NSW rebates can be used for crush protection, helmets, training and even contributions to moving to side-by-side vehicles.

Victor Dominelleo the NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation said it was the most comprehensive programs of its kind.

“What we are doing is balancing the regulatory burden on farmers with raising the bar on safety by improving awareness and providing practical assistance,” Mr Dominello said.

NSW Farmers Industrial Relations chairman Richard Charmen supported the NSW Government’s move and The Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety said the rebates were a “welcome development.” The centre’s director Tony Lower went onto say “In years gone by the NSW tractor rebate program, which supported the fitting of rollover protection structures, was amazingly successful in reducing deaths and has also been replicated in other countries.” “We see no reason why this rebate as part of the larger quad safety initiative cannot have a similarly positive impact in NSW.

For more information please visit http://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/health-and-safety/safety-topics-a-z/quad-bikes/quad-bike-safety-improvement-program-FAQs

Extract from http://www.insurancehouse.com.au/blog/nsw-raising-the-bar-on-quad-safety-leaving-victorian-farmers-behind/