TBA: Lock in transport plans early for movement of mares
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) yesterday encouraged breeders sending mares interstate to consider their transport plans carefully and well ahead of schedule with the Covid-19 pandemic creating havoc with interstate travel as the breeding season fast approaches.
While TBA chief executive Tom Reilly confirmed that breeding has been deemed an “essential agricultural activity” by the federal government and all of their state counterparts – something that was also conveyed by Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria (TBV) executive officer Charmein Bukovec in a statement yesterday – he said that the application processes for each state need to be closely examined.
Anyone transporting horses between states will need an appropriate border permit for whichever border they are crossing, while each person travelling with a horse will require their own documentation and identification.
“The message from state governments has been very clear; that breeding is an essential activity and moving a mare between states to be covered is also an essential operational activity,” Reilly said.
“But I would urge breeders, especially if they are moving horses themselves rather than using a transport company, to look at the application process for the permit they will need to travel and return from interstate.”
Restrictions for interstate travellers vary significantly. Victorians travelling into New South Wales will have to maintain a logbook detailing all of their movements in Victoria, while they will also have to self-isolate for the time they are in New South Wales. Queensland has similar restrictions for all visitors, from whichever they state they are arriving.
Reilly also encouraged farm workers that will be crossing state boundaries to have a letter from their employer, detailing their work in undertaking an essential agricultural activity. The letter should be dated, with the contact details of their employer clearly marked.
“While border permits are essential, I believe that if farm staff also carry a letter stating that they are an employee, and that they are carrying out an essential agricultural activity, it may avoid delays or confusion at borders,” he said.
“The situation with borders has obviously changed a number of times in recent weeks, so I think having a letter can only help when travelling between jurisdictions.”
TBV yesterday said that they would also issue a letter for Victorian farms in order to assist workers involved in the movement of mares, with intrastate checkpoints also in operation due to different levels of restrictions across the state.
“TBV are more than happy to write a letter explaining that your farm requires movement to get your mare covered. This is not a legal requirement but designed to give clarity to those at the checkpoints,” Bukovec said in the statement.
“In addition, I have spoken with stallion farms and they have confirmed they are more than happy to confirm your booking in writing via email. This will enable you to print the email off, which you can also present at a checkpoint.”
Dialogue between the TBA and the federal and state governments continues.