Victorian agents expected to be allowed into Queensland
Victorian industry participants who are currently undertaking quarantine ahead of the Magic Millions National Sale on the Gold Coast will be allowed to enter Queensland despite the government banning residents from the southern state from travelling there.
It is understood that those who have already been out of Victoria for an extended period will be spared from the new state border ruling, which was yesterday issued by Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, ahead of the scheduled reopening at midday today.
Agents Sheamus Mills, Damon Gabbedy, Suman Hedge and Baystone Farm’s Dean Harvey are among those who headed interstate once it became clear Victorians would not be allowed into Queensland without serving a two-week isolation period.
New Zealand agents Paul Willetts and Bevan Smith, as well as fellow Kiwis Steve Davis and Marcus Corban, gained entry into Australia earlier this week and are also undertaking hotel quarantine.
Hedge was this morning into day eight of his own quarantine at a Coogee Bay hotel in Sydney, with another six days to complete before he heads to the Gold Coast for the National sale.
“The view at the moment, and the information that we’ve got, is that I will be fine because I will have completed the 14 days,” Hedge told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“We’ve just got to run some paperwork and make sure that there is a very clear delineation that we have been out of Victoria for the 14 days … but it’s one of those things, if tomorrow you get a phone call and they say no then you have to be ready for anything.”
Vendors and buyers are set to arrive on the Gold Coast next week ahead of seven days of selling, which comprises three days of race fillies and broodmares, two weanling sessions and two days set aside for the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.