The NSW Government has announced $3.3 million in funding to support safety on NSW farms.
Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, Kevin Anderson said that farms continue to be one of NSW’s most dangerous workplaces and this funding will be used both to educate those in the agriculture sector and reduce high risk activities.
“This year we will be doubling down on quad bike safety by allocating $2.8 million to the Quad Bike Safety Improvement Program, meaning thousands of dollars in savings for farmers who choose safer equipment for day-to-day use,” Mr Anderson said.
Since the program was introduced in 2016, farmers have been paid rebates for 2,543 new side-by-side vehicles and 958 operator protection devices.
“This has been an incredibly successful program, and we want to make sure that farmers can continue to access these important rebates to keep themselves, their families, and their workers safe on the farm.”
Under the rebate program, farmers can claim rebates of up to $2,000 for safer side-by-side vehicles, $600 for rollover protection and $90 for helmets.
“We’re even offering $500 to go towards purchasing a drone, which allows you to check on your stock, fences or dams without having to jump on a quad bike,” Mr Anderson said.
Mr Anderson also announced $500,000 per annum for the four year Farm Safety Advisory Program.
“This program has been a huge success in improving worker farm safety through education. This additional funding will allow SafeWork to continue to work alongside the agriculture industry to provide practical advice and education on a whole host of farm safety issues.”
