His two work vehicles are fitted with bull-bars and he says it’s the best thing he’s ever done.

Over the past month Mr Palmer has had major run-

ins with kangaroos on the road between Bathurst and Oberon.

A bull-bar advocate, he is concerned by those he calls “do-gooders” who want them banned.

Mr Palmer was responding to a recent story in the Western Advocate (“Bull-bar ban debate: national review looking at pedestrian safety”) which noted the federal government was considering banning bull-bars as a way to improve pedestrian safety as part of a review into national road safety rules.

Local federal member for Calare John Cobb said the proposal was made by people unfamiliar with rural Australia.

“They’re talking through their hats,” Mr Cobb said. “I understand the importance of pedestrian safety, but a bullbar is not going to hit you harder than a vehicle.”

Mr Palmer, who runs a mobile mechanical repair business, agreed.

“The people proposing these laws must come from the city,” he said. “You might not need a bull-bar if you live in Mosman, but when you live in the bush and do a lot of travelling I would say they are a must.

“I’ve hit several ‘roos recently and there’s been hardly any damage done. I would hate to see what sort of a mess the truck would be in without the bull-bar.”

Mr Palmer hopes common-sense prevails.

“Obviously it’s a political issue, and sometimes the politicians struggle when it comes to commonsense,” he said. “Having a bull-bar should be a personal choice.”