She said there would be consultation with farmers and others on things like collecting eggs, feeding small animals and watering plants, "while ensuring safety is not compromised".
Anyone under the age of 15 must not be present in a workplace or undertake work that is likely to harm their health and safety, including lifting weights or with working with machinery — and the list goes on.
I could not help thinking do politicians know how the family farm operates, where there are expectations as children get older to contribute to the family unit, not only when they are asked to do farm tasks they want to?
There is a murmur that if children do a bit of farm work and are not paid, they are being exploited and are almost categorised as the poor children that are forced making Persian rugs in Asia.
It was the case in my day but now most kids get a bit of remuneration.
However, it is good for them to be taught to volunteer and do something for a neighbour or someone else and not to expect payment
Farming kids are blooded into the rural way of life from almost birth and play farming with their farm toys, acting out whatever is going on the farm.
Then when they get a pet lamb, calf, pup or pony, they learn about being responsible by caring for them and the health and safety issues when working with animals.
One thing leads on to another. Schools have a Young Farmers Club, they learn a bit more and their top ag students compete with other clubs in their respective age group at the annual National Young Farmer Competition, so they are well on the way to being equipped to be the next generation of farmers.
Minister Van Velden’s review of farming health and safety regulations includes a rethink and there will be consultation with Rural Women for their input as well as Federated Farmers. I found that intriguing when there are 10 farmers in Parliament and at least one a past president of Federated Farmers.
Surely, they could give her the answers she wants without having an expensive inquiry.
Doesn’t it boil down to farmers knowing the risks on their farms better than anyone and how to safeguard them, or, as one commentator put it, are they trying to create a problem that doesn’t exist?
