Minister for Roads and Freight, Duncan Gay, has directed the NSW Vehicle Standards Working Group to review the road rules for bullbars.

The group will work closely with NSW Farmers and manufacturers to address concerns surrounding the bullbar regulations established in 2003.

“We look forward to getting involved in this examination of five-post bullbars in relation to Australian Standard and the Australian Design Regulations (ADR),” president Fiona Simson said.

Mr Humphries said the working group would undertake an examination of bullbar standards and the related 2003 regulation as well as carry out a series of crash tests to investigate the risks of non-complying bullbars.

“They will also work to determine a transition period for people who have inadvertently purchased a non-complying bullbar since 2003. This period is likely to be several years in duration,” he said.

NSW Farmers has met with the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), who have acknowledged legislation has been in place since 2003 with the requirement all bullbars must generally conform to the shape of the vehicle as per the Australian Standard and must have ADR air bag certification.

“The minister is taking immediate action on this issue following NSW Farmers’ meeting with the RMS at AgQuip last week. In the meantime, NSW Farmers are requesting that current defect notices be repealed.”

The NSW Minister for Fair Trading, Matthew Mason-Cox, has also stated he would work closely with Minister Gay to ensure consumers and business were aware of the respective rights under the Australian consumer law in relation to bullbars.

NSW Farmers has also requested to attend a meeting in Canberra this week to discuss the matter with Federal Minister for Industry, Ian McFarlane along with other key industry stakeholders including manufacturer Tuff Bullbars.