The Minns Labor Government is sowing the seeds of safety during this year's Bush Summit with Agricultural Drones now qualifying for financial assistance under the Safe Work NSW Small Business Rebate program.
The rebate offers up to $1000 to help farmers purchase eligible safety items including agricultural drones to improve work health and safety for their farms.
Drones are an important tool to assist farmers with checking water points, inspecting and spraying crops, mustering livestock and monitoring fences.
The initiative aims to address the unacceptable number of fatalities and serious injuries caused by high-risk farm vehicles by encouraging the use of select drones as a safer alternative to a quad bike, side-by-side vehicle (SSV) or tractor to undertake farming activities.
Since 2011, quad bikes have been linked to 63 deaths in NSW, with 29 of those cases involving children under the age of 16. Similarly, side-by-side vehicles have contributed to a further 21 deaths, 8 of which were children.
Earlier this year, the NSW Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis, NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty and Member for Orange Phil Donato convened a roundtable with representatives from local agricultural employers, NSW Farmers, unions, experts, relevant government agencies, and the Country Women's Association.
The discussion focused on preventing fatalities and serious injuries in the agriculture sector by highlighting the need for transparency around farmers' daily risks, the barriers to changing safety behaviour, and effective prevention strategies for mitigating real-world challenges.
Since March 2023, SafeWork NSW has provided $813,000 in total funding towards rebating the costs of workplace health and safety items for the Agricultural sector.
Rebated items include approved operator protective devices for quad bike safety, compliant helmets for quad bike and side-by-side vehicle operators, animal management devices including calf pullers and sliding segregation gates, overhead shearing equipment, livestock chutes, lifting devices, aerial line markers, two-way (2-way) radios for isolated work, telegraph pole Hi-Viz wraps and more.
Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:
"The Minns Labor Government is investing in safer farms by offering eligible small businesses a rebate of up to $1000 to help purchase safety items like agricultural drones.
"This is a chance for farmers and agricultural workers to discover how practical, easy-to-use tech solutions like agricultural drones and mobile connectivity can help make farming safer and more productive.
"I would like to thank the NSW Farmers Association for their ongoing advocacy and suggestions in relation to farm safety and remain committed to working together to further help identify safety measures to assist the farming community."
Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:
"Drone technology is reshaping modern farming. It is a safer, smarter, and more efficient way to monitor crops, water, fences, and livestock.
"Too often we hear of families losing a father, mother, brother or son as a result of a farming accident.
"This is about helping make sure everyone on the land gets home after a long day's work.
"We encourage everyone working the land to take every precaution when it comes to keeping their farm safe."
SafeWork NSW Commissioner Janet Schorer said:
"Innovation is reshaping the future of farming, and SafeWork NSW is proud to lead the way in showcasing practical technologies that can improve safety and productivity across the agricultural sector.
"Tragically, we have seen far too many families and communities continue to endure the profound and lasting impact of preventable incidents on farms.
"That's why SafeWork NSW remains deeply committed to working alongside farmers and industry leaders to proactively identify and address the risks they are facing each day to ensure safer workplaces and stronger rural communities."
Member for Orange Phil Donato said:
"Farming accounts for one in every five worker deaths; The farming environment is hazard-filled, including quad bikes and other farming machinery, animal handling, biohazards, chemicals…the list goes on.
"These sorts of events offering practical technologies like drones not only improve safety and efficiency but help ease the pressure on farmers and their communities."
