By the time Australians head home from work today, as many as sixpeople will have been to emergency departments as a result of quad bike accidents. Over 230 Australians have died in quad bike accidents since 2001, including seven this year to date, and more than 650 people are hospitalised every year following quad bike accidents.
In March a report by the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission found many of these deaths could be avoided through the implementation of new safety standards like the installation of crush protection devices.
The ACCC has recommended that Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar make a mandatory safety standard under the Australian Consumer Law.
This morning, the National Farmers Federation held a quad bike safety demonstration on the lawns of Parliament House.
Shadow Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones joined representatives from the National Farmers Federation, the Rural Doctors Association, the Australian Workers Union, families of victims and representatives from rural communities across Australia, to call on Mr Sukkar and the Government to take action.
The ACCCs safety recommendations have been supported by the National Farmers Federation, the union movement, medical practitioners, international experts, and rural communities across Australia.
On the 5th of August the Shadow Assistant Treasurer wrote to Mr Sukkar, to ask him to implement the findings of the ACCCs report. No response has been received.
Every life lost is one too many. It is time that the Government put basic safety standards in place to protect Australian quadbike riders.
