Joint media release: National Farm Safety Week

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Julie Collins MP
Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator the Hon Anthony Chisholm

Increasing domestic demand for South Australian wine and developing leadershiThis week’s National Farm Safety Week reminds us of the dangers faced by farmers and their workers in their daily work and the importance of taking steps to keep everyone safe on the land.

The Albanese Labor Government is committed to bringing the number of farm accidents and fatalities down, which is why we’ve committed $2.5 million over three years for Farmsafe Australia to deliver better farm safety outcomes across Australia.

The theme of this year’s National Farm Safety Week, ‘Second Chances – Who Knows How Many You’ll Get?’, shines a light on the many near-misses that happen every day on Australian farms.

This campaign invites farmers and their employees to stop and think about near-misses – those close calls where things could have gone very differently – and use them as opportunities to take stock, make changes, and put safety first.  

This year the message is even more important as 72 people lost their lives and 133 were seriously injured in on-farm incidents in 2024.

Fatigue, familiarity, time constraints and demands of the job can all contribute to accidents on farm.

That’s why it’s so important for farmers and their employees to be safe on-farm and stay alert to situations that could become quickly dangerous. For more information, visit https://farmsafe.org.au/

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP:

“Agriculture, fisheries and forestry have the highest rate of workplace fatalities per worker compared to any other industry in Australia.

“These are not just numbers. It’s someone’s parent, partner or child who never came home.

“Our farmers work tirelessly to keep us all fed and clothed. We care about their wellbeing and want every farming family to stay safe.

“This Farm Safety Week, I encourage all farmers and their workers to take a moment to reflect, make safety a priority, and take simple steps to protect themselves and those around them.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Senator for Queensland, Anthony Chisholm:

“This Farm Safety Week is an important reminder for farmers and their workers to stay vigilant and prioritise safety on Australian farms.

“We want to see an Australia where fatalities and accidents on Australian farms decrease down to zero.

“That’s why the Albanese Government is proud to back the work Farmsafe Australia does to increase farm safety education and shine a light on the constant dangers faced by our farmers and their workers.”