A NEW proposal for quad bike manufacturers to adopt a five-star rating system to improve safety identification, as part of a push to reduce farm deaths and tragedies has gained high level backing.
The five-star rating concept on quad bikes was flagged by National Farmers' Federation (NFF) and Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) at Parliament House in Canberra earlier this week.
Today, RDAA President Dr Ewen McPhee joined with the federal Assistant Health Minister and NSW Nationals MP Dr David Gillespie to front the media at the same venue.
The core focus of that media event was promoting the federal government’s proposed National Rural Generalist Program which aims to provide more of the next generation of doctors with advanced skills to rural and remote Australia.
But when asked about the ongoing threats of quad bike incidents to rural Australians and farmers, Dr Gillespie said “anyone should have concerns about safety”.
He said the five-star rating initiative proposed by the NFF “sounds quite reasonable and sensible”.
But he said his focus, as the Assistant Health Minister, was on the health workforce rather than mechanical safety regulation.
Dr Gillespie said the proposed National Rural Health Commissioner’s first priority would be to develop a medical generalist pathway and he hoped its enabling legislation - currently before the Senate - would achieve bipartisan support in the next few days.
Dr McPhee also welcomed the proposed five star safety rating system on quad bikes mooted by the NFF and backed by the RDAA.
“The Rural Doctors Association needs to bring home the message that there have been 240 deaths of rural Australians in this country in the last 20 years,” he said.
“In the last few weeks alone we’ve seen a six year old and a 65 die as a result of quad bikes.
“We need to get the message out there that this can’t continue.
“The illness, injury, death and disability caused by these farm vehicles is a significant problem.
“The five star rating system proposed by the National Farmers’ Federation should educate both consumers, farmers and the industry as to what we need to make sure we’re delivering a safe product.”
The five-star safety rating, ideally applied voluntarily by manufacturers, would assist farmers and other consumers to make an informed buying decision when purchasing a quad bike, the NFF said earlier this week.
NFF President Fiona Simson said a well-designed five-star rating system would also address rollover risk, which was the leading contributor to death and serious injury in quad bike incidents.
“Unlike with two-wheel motorbikes, it is not speed, but the stability of the vehicle that is the major contributor to the quad bike rollovers,” she said.
Dr McPhee added there was no such thing as a ‘child-appropriate’ quad.
The NFF and RDAA have also proposed the same five-star safety-rating system be applied to side-by-side vehicles (SSVs).
Mr Simson said farmers are increasingly comparing quad bikes with SSVs.
“A proactive, positive approach to formalising this comparison can only lead to better and more informed consumer choices as to which vehicle is most appropriate for their needs – from a safety and business perspective,” she said.
"It will also encourage manufacturers to develop safer, more stable quad bikes for the Australian market, with improved stability, dynamic handling and rollover protection.”
Colin Bettles
Has been the Canberra Bureau Chief for Fairfax Agricultural Media since 2010 - survived the hung parliament - former media manager at Western Australian Cricket Association now covering national agricultural and rural issues in federal politics.
Has been the Canberra Bureau Chief for Fairfax Agricultural Media since 2010 - survived the hung parliament - former media manager at Western Australian Cricket Association now covering national agricultural and rural issues in federal politics.
