After years of debate and consultation, virtual fencing has officially been legalised for cattle in New South Wales, a move welcomed by farmers and regional MPs as a major step forward for modern livestock management.

In April this year, Member for Barwon Roy Butler described the decision as long overdue, pointing to the work of a parliamentary committee he chaired.

“Great news that virtual fencing will be legalised."

"This is in line with the recommendations of the committee on Investment, Industry and Regional Development, a committee I chair,” Mr Butler said at the time.

“Well done to Philip Donato for raising the bill, and thanks to Tara Moriarty MLC for accepting the advice of the committee.”

That announcement has now been formalised, with the NSW Government confirming new regulations that allow virtual stock fencing to be used for cattle across the state.

The Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty, said the change delivers on a government commitment to give farmers access to AgTech already in use elsewhere in Australia.

“The NSW Government is offering cattle farmers a new opportunity today by legalising virtual stock fencing.

"We committed to allow virtual fencing and now we are delivering on it,” Ms Moriarty said.

She said the technology would help producers better manage stock while avoiding the high costs of installing and maintaining physical fencing.

“Our Government introduced this regulation following years of inaction by the former Coalition Government.

"NSW’s farmers have now gained access to this new technology like their counterparts use in Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia and Tasmania,” she said.

Member for Barwon, Roy Butler, has been a long time advocate for virtual fencing which has now been officially approved in NSW.

Virtual fencing uses GPS-enabled collars or neckbands that provide sensory cues to influence cattle movement within a farm’s boundaries, without the need for internal physical fences.

The technology can also monitor activity, health and welfare, while reducing the stress associated with mustering using quad bikes or dogs.

The regulations follow extensive consultation with farming groups, animal welfare enforcement agencies and suppliers, and draw on the recommendations of the Legislative Assembly Committee Inquiry into the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Virtual Stock Fencing) Bill 2024.

They adopt the NSW Guide to Animal Welfare for Virtual Fencing of Cattle, which sets safeguards around training, monitoring and animal welfare standards, including requirements that vibrational or audio cues are used before any electric cue and that the technology is only permitted for cattle.

NSW Member for Orange Phil Donato said producers across regional NSW had been calling for a practical solution that reflected modern farming realities.

“Producers in the Central West and across NSW have been asking for a practical solution that reduces costs, improves labour efficiency, and adapts to challenging seasonal conditions,” Mr Donato said.

“Virtual fencing delivers exactly that.

"It’s flexible, responsive, and gives farmers real-time insight into their cattle - something traditional fences simply can’t do.”

NSW Farmers also welcomed the change, describing it as a victory for producers who have long advocated for access to the technology.

“This technology has been a game changer not just in other parts of Australia, but around the globe, and it’s high time we got on board,” NSW Farmers’ Animal Welfare Committee Chair Rob McIntosh said.

“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.”

Mr McIntosh said the benefits extended beyond cost savings, including improved biodiversity protection, reduced stock handling and more accurate grazing management.

“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,” he said.

He also welcomed the state-specific framework introduced by the Minns Government.

“The rules had to reflect the needs of producers, and it’s great to see our government listen to us on this,” Mr McIntosh said.

With the regulations now in place, virtual fencing is expected to be gradually adopted across NSW cattle properties, particularly in large and remote grazing operations, offering producers across the Western Plains a new tool to improve efficiency, welfare and productivity into the future.