With 10 lives lost already this year due to quad bike related injuries, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Bill Shorten has called for public comment on design and engineering controls to improve quad bike safety.

 In releasing the public discussion paper today Mr Shorten emphasised the importance of improving quad bike safety in Australia.

 “Quad bikes are the leading cause of fatalities on Australian farms with more 150 Australian dying since 2001 from a quad bike incident,” Mr Shorten said.

 “It is time action is taken to reduce these shocking statistics.”

 The discussion paper calls for public submissions on engineering design options to:

 -       improve the current design of quad bikes and stability

-       reduce the capacity of children to start and/or operate quad bikes

-       reduce the capacity for passengers to be carried on quad bikes, and

-       improve protection in the event of a roll over.

 The discussion paper will be open for a four week public comment period closing 28 September 2012.

 “In July this year I hosted a roundtable discussion with senior representatives from farming organisations, industry, unions and community groups to propose a way forward to improve quad bike safety,” Mr Shorten said.

 “At this roundtable I gave my commitment to work with stakeholders to improve quad bike safety in our nation.

 “This discussion paper released today is the next step in a review of quad bike safety in Australia.

 “I encourage submissions from industry, engineers, regulatory authorities, community groups and other interested parties and look forward to hearing your thoughts on how we can collectively reduce these tragic statistics.”

 To review the discussion paper and have your say on how quad bike safety can be improved visit

http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/QuadWatch/comment

 

 Mr Shorten’s media contact: Jessica Lindell 0408 642 804