Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) president, Dr Ewen McPhee, said the RDAA supports the National Farmers’ Federation’s (NFF) call for a five star safety rating system.

“Quad bikes are one of the leading causes of on-farm fatalities in Australia,” Dr McPhee said.

NFF president Fiona Simson said there is an estimated 200,000 quad bikes on rural properties in Australia.

In both 2015 and 2016 quad bikes accounted for the highest number of farm deaths and injuries overall.

Currently, there is conflicting information available to farmers when purchasing their quad bikes as to the effectiveness, and even safety, of protection items such as crush protection devices (CPDs).

Much of this information is provided by the manufacturers and there is currently no independent information provided on safety when buying a quad bike.

“As rural doctors, we see the devastation caused by the death or serious injury to the families and communities affected by on-farm accidents.

“Too many of these deaths are of children, and their parents did not have a sufficient understanding of the level of risk involved in allowing them to operate quad bikes.

“There is no such thing as a child appropriate quad,” Dr McPhee said.

“We whole heartedly support the NFF’s call for a safety rating system, to allow consumers to make informed buying decisions and to protect themselves and their loved ones”

I write to ensure your readers are aware of the rebates available to help increase quad bike safety across our state.

Like your readers, I am deeply concerned about the number of quad bike deaths and injuries and I have been saddened by the recent deaths.

Since 2011, 112 people have lost their lives in quad bike accidents nationally, with 30 of these tragedies occurring in NSW. Those figures are totally unacceptable.

The NSW Government’s Quad Bike Safety Improvement Program, introduced last July, gave farmers access to a one-off rebate to buy helmets, undertake training, retrofit safety equipment to existing quad bikes, and/or buy a safer side-by-side farm vehicle.

Earlier this month, we doubled the rebate to $1,000 for the purchase of a side-by-side vehicle, $500 for the retrofitting of safety equipment to an existing quad bike, and $90 for the purchase of an approved helmet.

As many farmers have more than one quad bike, they can now also apply for two rebates, meaning they can be eligible for up to $2000, rather than the original $500 if they are buying side-by-sides.

Further information is available from www.safework.nsw.gov.au and I really encourage your readers to visit the website and find out what they can do to reduce their risk of death or injury.

Matt Kean, Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation