The New South Wales Government announced a statewide lockdown on the weekend, as daily COVID infections passed 400.  The decision to place the entire state under stay-at-home orders has created a high degree of concern and confusion for many producers planning on holding bull sales over coming days.

This morning the NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall and the NSW Health Minister, Brad Hazzard have worked to create an exemption to the public health orders that will allow on-farm livestock (bull) sales to go ahead.

The decision means that New South Wales-based producers can now attend sales across the state in person, even to those sales which will be held outside their LGA. However, producers will be required to follow all directions to comply with COVID-safe practices including the requirement to wear face masks, check in using QR Codes and carry photo identification with them.

The NSW government decision does not mean that Queensland bull buyers can cross the state border to make purchases, and will be limited to online buying only.

For those NSW bull breeders who are holding sales over coming days, they must have a COVID plan in place.  The NSW Health Exemption can be seen through the link below

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Documents/exemption-auctions-regionalnsw.pdf