A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will invest $2.5 million over three years to support Farmsafe Australia to deliver better safety outcomes through the National Farm Safety Education Fund.

Farmsafe Australia has played a major role in providing awareness and resources to producers across the country on how to adopt safer work practices and make safer decisions on a day-to-day basis.

Data released by AgriFutures Australia revealed a sharp and deeply concerning rise in on-farm fatalities and serious injuries, with 72 lives lost and 133 serious injuries recorded in 2024.

Recent findings from SafeWork NSW echoed this worrying trend, with one in every five worker deaths in NSW recorded in the Ag sector. Quad bikes, animal handling, biosecurity hazards, tree work and electrical work were identified as some of the most dangerous tasks undertaken by producers.

This investment builds on existing Australian Government funding to Farmsafe Australia of $125,000 annually until 2027 to deliver the Farm Safety Week campaign.

Farmsafe, led by Chair Felicity Richards, will use the funds to enhance their resources to reach more farming communities, especially those living and operating in Australia’s remote and very remote areas.

These objectives complement work undertaken through the National Farm Safety Education Fund, which aims to improve the adoption of safe work practices, ultimately making farms a safer place to live and work.

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

“We know our farmers work hard, and we want to support them to work safely too.

“This funding will build on the suite of support that Labor has already put in place for our agriculture sector across the country.

“Farmers know Labor has got their backs, whether that’s on farm or on the world stage."

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

“When I met Felicity on her farm in Tassie last year, I was impressed by her passion and Farmsafe’s commitment to improving safety standards on Australian farms.

“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.

“The Labor Party was born in Queensland’s agricultural region, and we’ll always be the party you can trust to protect workers across all industries.”