- Published:
- Wednesday 17 August 2016
Victorian farmers who buy rollover protection for their quad bike or an alternative work vehicle will be eligible to claim a rebate from 1 September thanks to the Andrews Labor Government’s $6 million subsidy scheme.
The Labor Government’s scheme is designed to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries caused by quad bike rollovers. Tragically, last year 22 people were killed in quad bike incidents across Australia. In Victoria, two farmers died this year after being crushed by their quad bikes.
Farmers operating a business in Victoria with no more than 19 full-time employees, own a quad bike for work purposes, and use farming as their main source of income, are eligible to apply for rebates of up to $1200.
The Labor Government is offering rebates of:
- $1200 for the purchase of a safer vehicle such as a side-by-side vehicle (SSV) or a small utility vehicle (SUV). The safer vehicle must be designed for use in an agricultural environment, and at point of sale have rollover protection and a fitted seatbelt
- Up to $600 for the purchase of an operator protective device (OPD), which can be claimed on a maximum of two OPDs. An OPD must have been designed and manufactured in accordance with approved engineering standards and independently tested to be eligible for the rebate
Rebates will be available for equipment purchased from 1 September, with claims able to be lodged from 1 October 2016. The scheme to be administered by the Victorian Farmers Federation and WorkSafe, will run for up two years with rebates allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Further details will be available soon on the WorkSafe and VFF websites.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Finance Robin Scott
“The Andrews Labor Government is taking action to protect farmers by giving them the support they need to do their jobs safely.”
“This rebate is about saving lives and preventing tragic incidents from happening on Victorian farms.”
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford
"The safety of employees must always come first. For farmers, their employees are often their loved ones, so safety must always be the number one priority."