MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan has welcomed news that virtual fencing was legalised in New South Wales on Thursday.
Virtual fencing systems allow farmers to confine and move animals without physical fences using GPS, wireless and sensor technology.
A parliamentary inquiry in October 2024 into the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Virtual Stock Fencing) Bill 2024 recommended the NSW Government legalise virtual fencing for commercial use.
Mr Moylan backed the recommendations to legalise the technology following the enquiry and was pleased to hear the NSW Government saw sense in it and moved to legalise it.
“Legalising virtual fencing in New South Wales is a no-brainer,” Mr Moylan said.
“It has enormous benefits to agriculture as well as to the land and environment through easier pasture management, protecting sensitive environments, monitoring animal health and it makes moving stock during major weather events much easier.
“Thursday’s decision to legalise virtual fencing in Nedw South Wales will be hugely beneficial for farmers and their livestock management,” he said.
“The technology allows for far more productive and effective farming practices with the ability to move stock around large properties without the need to build fences.
“It will lower fencing costs, protect biodiversity, reduce stock handling, and improve grazing accuracy.
“It is great to see the government listen and get on board with this technology.”
NSW Farmers’ president Xavier Martin said virtual fencing has changed the game for cattle producers, not just in other parts of Australia, but around the globe.
“It’s time New South Wales came up to speed,” Mr Martin said.
“From reducing ongoing fencing and maintenance costs, protecting biodiversity and limiting stock handling, the benefits of this technology make it an incredibly powerful tool.
“With farmers needing to produce more food and fibre than ever before, it’s vital we jump on board with innovative technologies like this, so we can feed the future.”
NSW Farmers’ Animal Welfare Committee chair Rob McIntosh said the technology is a game-changer. “Not just in other parts of Australia, but around the globe, and it’s high time we got on board,”
“This technology gives us flexibility we’ve never had before – we can graze and move stock without building kilometres of fences and laneways, and we can also easily move these virtual fences to help manage our livestock and our land.
“From reducing ongoing fencing and maintenance costs to protecting biodiversity, limiting stock handling, and increasing monitoring and grazing accuracy, the benefits of this technology are endless – and we can’t wait to start using it.”
Mr McIntosh said it was positive to see the Minns Government had created practical, state-specific settings to guide the use of the technology in New South Wales, following strong advocacy from the state’s peak farm body.
“The rules had to reflect the needs of producers, and it’s great to see our government listen to us on this,” he said.
“This new technology provides a whole new tool to innovate and improve productivity on farm – and we’re so excited to use it to help feed the future.”
