A $6-million state government scheme is aiming to improve quad bike safety on the region’s farms.
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Premier Daniel Andrews announced the subsidy plan at the Victorian Farmers Federation conference on Friday.
The scheme provides rebates for farmers to either fit rollover protection to their existing bikes, or help them buy a safer vehicle.
Worksafe Victoria said it there had been nine workplace deaths involving a quad bike in the past six years. Five of those accidents occurred on farms in the south-west.
The most recent death occurred last month when a 68-year-old man was killed when his quad bike overturned.
The rebate supports a WorkSafe plan to enforce greater safety standards around quad bikes.
WorkSafe will also be shortly releasing a major public awareness campaign in regional Victoria on the risks associated with using quad bikes on farms.
Eligible farmers will be offered up to $600 each for up to two quad bikes to fit rollover protection, or $1200 towards the cost of buying a safer work vehicle.
It is estimated that more than 5000 farmers will receive the rebate over the two-year life of the scheme, which will be managed by WorkSafe Victoria and the VFF.
Mr Andrews said too many people were being killed or seriously injured in quad bike accidents.
“This is about saving lives and we encourage every eligible farmer to make use of this rebate and stay safe,” he said.
Minister for Finance Robin Scott said agriculture made up just 3 per cent of the state’s workforce, but suffers almost 30 per cent of workplace deaths.
Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety data shows 15 people were killed across Australia using quad bikes in 2015. More than 220 people have been killed while riding quad bikes since 2001.
