'All systems go' for Magic Millions as Queensland drops border restrictions early

4 min read
Buyers, vendors and other Australian-based members of the thoroughbred industry are set to have relatively unrestricted access to travel to Queensland to attend next month's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, after the state government confirmed it would be opening its borders earlier than expected.

Queensland was initially expected to fully open its borders to New South Wales, Victoria and other hotspot areas on December 17, but with its race to reach a level of 80 per cent double vaccination ahead of schedule, it will now open from 1am AEST on Monday, December 13.

That confirms that industry participants from all over Australia will be able to enter Queensland by either road or air to attend the much-anticipated Sale, which begins on the Gold Coast on January 11, as long as they are double vaccinated and have provided a negative COVID-19 test prior to their arrival in the state. There will also be additional testing requirements while they are in Queensland.

However, anyone who is not fully vaccinated will need to arrive by air and undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine.

International buyers headed to the Sale will be required to undergo 14 days of hotel or home quarantine on arrival in Queensland. Further clarification on international travel is expected to come after National Cabinet meets on Friday.

Barry Bowditch

Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said the decision provided a clear runway to participation for everyone in Australia at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

"We are confident it will be all systems go for a huge Australian market here and we will work with our contacts to give internationals every chance of being here," he told TDN AusNZ.

There is still some prospect that restrictions with New Zealand may open up in the next few weeks, allowing those from across the Tasman Sea to attend but that decision is yet to be made.

"We are confident it will be all systems go for a huge Australian market here and we will work with our contacts to give internationals every chance of being here." - Barry Bowditch

Bowditch expects to have a much broader spectrum of attendees at the Yearling Sale than the 2021 edition, which was impacted by state border closures, but still resulted in record trade.

It is not yet clear what mandates may be in place around the wearing of masks at major events in Queensland, with further clarification expected in the coming weeks.

However, Magic Millions has confirmed it will have the same protocols in place as Racing Queensland will implement at its racecourses during that time, ensuring a consistent approach across the board.

Acting Chief Health Officer Peter Aitken said decisions around mask wearing will be guided by the spread of COVID-19 in the community once the borders open.

What will change?

The Queensland Government provided the following guidelines around entry into Queensland from December 13.

- Queensland will reopen its borders to COVID hotspots including NSW, Victoria, ACT and Adelaide at 1am AEST on Monday December 13 with people able to enter via road or air

- People crossing the border must be fully vaccinated and will need a negative PCR test in the 72 hours prior to arrival. They must have had their second vaccine dose at least a week prior

- No quarantine will be required for fully vaccinated arrivals

- Those coming from hotspot areas will also be required to return another negative test on Day 5 in the state. If the person comes back positive, they will have to isolate

- Queenslanders will be able to freely travel into the NSW border zone and can return without a PCR test, providing they are fully vaccinated, have a border pass and have not travelled further than the designated border zone. Border passes are valid for 14 days.

- Unvaccinated residents will be restricted to travel for the limited essential reasons that currently exist in Queensland

Specifically around international travellers to Queensland, the State government said it won't fully open the borders to those travelling from overseas yet:

- International arrivals must be fully vaccinated and return a negative COVID test within 72 hours of departure, they will be required to get a test on arrival and must go into home or hotel quarantine for 14 days

Relief for border areas

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she anticipated Queensland would hit 90 per fully vaccinated by mid-January at which point further restrictions may be eased.

Travel into Queensland is expected to ramp up significantly ahead of Christmas and police will be conducting compliance checks at and around borders. Those disregarding the directive will face heavy fines of $4135.

Monday will also see a significant opening up of travel between border communities on Queensland and New South Wales.

"From Monday, vaccinated border zone residents will be able to move freely across the border for any reason," Premier Palaszczuk said

"You will need a border pass and the border pass will run for 14 days – but you will not need a test.

"We know that it has been extremely difficult for our border communities and we're hoping to provide some greater flexibility and freedom of movement for those communities."

Magic Millions
Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Barry Bowditch
border restrictions
COVID