Save us from idiot farmers

Just another drowning - a 3 year old girl and her little brother wander away from their home. Their mother realises they are gone and finds them - in the farm effluent pond not far from the house. She got both out but it was too late for the little girl. read more

Just another inattentive mother?

Not in this case. Mothers with morning sickness are allowed time off to throw up. Mothers are allowed toilet breaks too, believe it or not.

Unfenced pond? Well yes and no, it was fenced, sort of. It wasn't in the same paddock as the house but it was a normal farm fence and the gate was normally left open.

The problem in this case is that the house was unfenced. The farmer (the employer, not the parent) hadn't gotten round to it.

Now I have yet to hear of a farmer's wife that would put up with having an unfenced house. A fence is essential for keeping the kids in and the stock out.

Now there is talk of legislation all because of a farmer who promised a fence in a contract with his share milker but didn't get around to it.

Blame the wet winter or calving if you like - the farmer does. The point is that now one child is dead and another is still at risk because of a job left undone for months.

An unfenced farm dwelling is an accident waiting to happen.

And happen it did.