In a show of bipartisan unity, both Labor and the Coalition have pledged $2.5 million over three years to support Farmsafe Australia in its mission to make Australian farms safer places to live and work.
The matching commitments come after a devastating year in 2024, which saw 72 lives lost and 133 serious injuries on farms—more than double the previous year’s toll. The figures, released by AgriFutures Australia and AgHealth Australia, have prompted urgent calls for action from across the agriculture sector.
Farmsafe Australia Chair and Tasmanian beef farmer Felicity Richards said the support from both sides of politics was not only welcome but crucial for sustaining and expanding safety programs that have already saved lives.
“It’s incredibly heartening to see confidence in Farmsafe from both sides of politics,” Mrs Richards said.
“Farmers want information they can trust—from people who speak their language.”
“This gives us the tools to keep delivering programs that increase awareness, develop skills and make our farm businesses more productive and sustainable.”
Nationals Leader David Littleproud, who first announced the Coalition’s $2.5 million commitment on April 9, said the Coalition supports the lives and livelihood of Australian farmers.
“Agriculture consistently ranks as one of the most dangerous industries to work in,” Mr Littleproud said.
“In 2024, 72 lives were lost and 133 serious injuries were recorded, which is more than double those recorded in 2023.
“We must protect the people who put food on the table and clothes on our back. The agriculture industry will only continue to grow if it is safe.”
Labor candidate for New England Laura Hughes said the investment would provide practical resource to help keep farmers and their families safe every day.
“Our farmers and producers are the lifeblood of New England — and like our hardworking mining communities, they deserve to know that their safety is a top priority,” Ms Hughes said.
Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Senator Anthony Chisholm, praised Farmsafe’s leadership and stressed the need for action.
“The statistics aren’t just bad, they’re getting worse. We can’t just ignore this.”
“We need to improve standards right across the country and this investment in Farmsafe Australia is a great start,” he said.
The bipartisan approach has been welcomed by stakeholders as a major step forward for the industry.
National Farmers’ Federation President David Jochinke called the united front a “lifesaving move.”
“We thank both sides of politics for stepping up and committing to this investment in saving lives,” Mr Jochinke said.
“Every death shatters a family. There are 72 families across Australia grieving from just one year. This funding sends a signal that the safety of farming families matters – and that Government has a role to play in fixing this.”
The funding will enable Farmsafe to enhance its work in high-risk areas such as quad bike safety, child safety, mental health, machinery operation and side-by-side vehicle use. It will also help expand the organisation’s reach into remote and very remote communities.
“This support comes at a critical time,” said Mrs Richards.
“We’ve seen far too many tragedies over the years, and we know that with the right information and education, many of these could have been prevented.”
“Farm safety is a responsibility for all of us. It’s about making sure the next generation grows up with their parents, their siblings, and their neighbours still alive.”
Farmsafe says it looks forward to working with both the government and the opposition to ensure the funding delivers real results on the ground.
This year’s National Farm Safety Week will run from 20–26 July, under the theme “Second Chances – Who knows how many you’ll get.”
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