Quad bike manufacturer Honda has lashed out at the Federal Government's new safety rules for the vehicles, describing the measures as a "ban by stealth".
Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar announced today that manufacturers would have two years to comply with legislation mandating that new quad bikes be fitted with crush protection devices.
Honda Australia spokesman Robert Toscano said that it was a "disappointing day for farm safety and the countless farmers who rely on quad bikes every day".
"As it looks, in two years' time we will be forced to cease supply of quad bikes in Australia," Mr Toscano said in a statement.
"Honda's position has always been to put farmer safety first.
"The final standard released this morning fundamentally fails."
National Farmers' Federation chief executive Tony Mahar welcomed the new regulations as a "great step forward" but admitted not all farmers have been seeking the extra regulation.
"I think there are various views — there always is — but ultimately the facts speak," Mr Mahar said.
"There are 16 deaths a year — more than one person a month, six people a day presenting at hospital.
"The facts don't lie."
Raft of regulations
In its reaction to today's announcement, Honda claimed that "known and proven safety measures accepted and agreed by safety experts, coronial inquests and the manufacturers have been ignored."
These measures include mandatory training, helmet use, and limiting the age of riders to 16 and older.
Mr Sukkar said this morning that he planned to write to state and territory governments calling on them to ban children from riding adult-sized quad bikes, and prohibit passengers on single-person quad bikes.
He will also recommend that states mandate helmets for people riding quad bikes.
It was also announced that within one year new bikes will be required to carry a warning to alert riders to the risk of rollovers.
They will also have to meet US and European standards relating to brakes, suspension systems, throttles and clutches.
The new standards will also mandate that in two years all new bikes meet minimum stability requirements.
There are no new requirements for existing bikes.
"Quad bikes are the leading cause of fatalities in Australia for all consumer products that aren't regulated," Mr Sukkar said.
"This safety standard aims to address the high risk of rollovers, which is especially important for many farmers and their families who use these vehicles daily."
ACCC points to rollover record
Manufacturers have been staunchly opposed to the regulation of quad bikes and threatened to withdraw from the Australian market if the government adopted recommendations made by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in March 2018.
Meanwhile ACCC Commissioner Mick Keogh has stood by the recommendations.
"Fifteen thousand of the 186,000 quad bikes … in Australia already have rollover protection on them," Mr Keogh said.
"And not one of those has had a death associated with it."
Nine people have died in quad bike accidents in Australia this year, and it is estimated that six people a day present to emergency departments with injuries from quad bike accidents.
A Safe Work Australia snapshot showed that in the eight years from January 2011 to December 2018, 128 people died around the country in quad bike accidents.
The National Farmers' Federation, Rural Doctors Association, Australian Workers Union and Country Women's Association are among those calling for increased safety regulations for quad bikes.
