ALPA defers young auctioneers state final that was planned for Ekka

Ten of Queensland's best auctioneers would have attended a celebratory dinner in Brisbane this Wednesday night before competing on the cattle lawns on Thursday but COVID-19 lockdowns put those plans in jeopardy.

ALPA CEO Peter Baldwin said after meeting with stakeholders and the RNA Beef Committee following yesterday's South East Queensland lockdown announcement, the decision had been made to defer the competition in the best interest of human health.

"Given the fact that our competitors, their families and sponsors were travelling primarily from regional and rural Queensland, we just wanted to safeguard their health," he told Queensland Country Life.

"The good news is we will be conducting a competition subject to the approval of the Stock and Station Association at a regional saleyard in rural Queensland."

Mr Baldwin said plans were underway for the competition to take place from late September or early October with cattle numbers at the possible venues being taken into consideration.

"We will try and have a dinner too and make a spectacle for rural Queensland," he said.

"We looked at every alternative available...RNA have been fantastic and we can't thank them enough for accommodating us."

It comes after the RNA decided to cancel the stud cattle section that was due to begin on Tuesday.

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