Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, left, and Greg Frost of SuperMoto in Armidale with the dealership’s queue of quad bikes awaiting servicing.
Friday, 10 March 2017
THE State Government has doubled the value of rebates available to farmers for quad bike safety measures, Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall announced today.
Last July the government introduced one-off rebates to allow farmers to buy helmets and safety equipment, undertake training, or upgrade their quadbike to a safer side-by side.
This week the government has doubled this rebate – providing farmers $1,000 for the purchase of a side-by-side, $500 to fit an existing quad bike with safety equipment, and $90 to purchase an approved helmet.
Pleasingly, Mr Marshall said farmers were also now able to apply for two rebates, to cover properties with multiple vehicles. He said everyone should treat quad bikes with caution.
“It’s rare to see a farm without a quad – but just because they’re ubiquitous doesn’t mean they don’t carry tremendous risk,” Mr Marshall said.
“A modern quadbike can weigh 350 kiklograms and has a high centre of gravity. Tragically, 29 people have lost their lives on quads in NSW since 2011– and many of those could be avoided.
“Each injury or death has a tremendous impact on the regional community. Safety upgrades are an easy way to avoid heartbreak, and now they’re easier to access than ever.”
A new, 12-minute, online quad bike safety presentation (www.safework.nsw.gov.au) has also been launched this week to give farmers easy access to important information. To qualify for the rebates, farmers are required to complete the online course, do a quad bike safety course, or interact with a SafeWork NSW officer. That can be as easy as a short conversation at a field day.
Mr Marshall said the program gave more options to busy farmers.
“While these options will still be offered, this online teaching tool will allow farmers to access quad bike safety advice at a time that is most convenient to them and, more importantly, give them easier access to the rebates that might save their lives,” Mr Marshall said.
Rebates under the quad bike program are administered by NSW Farmers Association.