The Hodgman Liberal Government is committing $435,000 over the next three years to improve workplace health and safety on Tasmanian farms.
We understand that across our agricultural industry from our land to the sea, it is our people who are our greatest asset.
They are dedicated employees, who often work in challenging conditions, exposed to the elements or in charge of heavy machinery, from sunrise to sunset, and we have to ensure their safety.
The farm is also a unique work environment, where family homes are often part of the workplace.
The personal and economic cost of farm injuries in Australia is unacceptably high with farm workers accounting for 15.33 deaths per 100,000 compared to 1.93 for workers across all industries
That's why we have developed the FarmSafe Tasmania Program, to improve the health and safety of the dedicated workers across all our agricultural sectors.
The new program will:
A reference group of key industry stakeholders will be established to inform and advise the program, including: Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers
Association, Primary Employers Tasmania, Tasmanian Agricultural Productivity Group Dairy Tas, Wine Tas and Proactive Agricultural Safety and Support.
A dedicated full-time FarmSafe advisor will be appointed within Worksafe Tasmania to implement the project and fulfil an educational role.
The advisor will also partner with organisations including the TFGA, Rural Youth, Rural Alive and Well, Women in Agriculture to deliver the program.
Of the program's funds, $100,000 will be set aside to enable WorkSafe Tasmania to fund events and initiatives with industry partners.
While the FarmSafe Tasmania Program is based on the successful advisory services model already supporting general workplace safety, this will be specifically tailored to the needs of the industry.
Our primary industries are a valuable competitive strength and that's why we're investing more than $6.5 million over four years through the Cultivating Prosperity in Agriculture policy.
We believe we can grow the value of Tasmania's agricultural produce ten-fold to $10 billion a year by 2050.
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