Coronavirus: NT man Gerry Blitner ordered to stay in hotel after quarantine breach

A Northern Territory man who suffers cognitive difficulties has been ordered to stay in his Brisbane hotel room until he can catch a flight home after breaching quarantine orders.

A Northern Territory man has been ordered to stay in a hotel room until he can be placed on the next flight home after he allegedly breached quarantine orders.

Gerry Blitner, 32, appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning via video link charged with failing to comply with a COVID-19 direction and wilful damage.

The court heard Blitner suffered significant cognitive difficulties and at various stages of the hearing he could be seen screaming and banging the screen on the video link.

The case demonstrates the challenges faced by authorities in dealing with people affected by cognitive issues who are under quarantine orders.

Blitner had travelled to Brisbane to visit a sister who herself was in quarantine.

However the court heard Australian Border Force officials deemed Blitner’s travel was non essential.

Efforts were made to put him on a flight to Darwin this morning however Blitner allegedly made threats against people if he was forced to board the aircraft.

He was then ordered to quarantine in the Novotel Airport Brisbane hotel until April 23.

Blitner was allegedly non-compliant and was arrested by police. He allegedly damaged part of a police vehicle, the court heard.

The court heard the quarantine order was made out in another name which Blitner initially said he did not go by before agreeing that it was him.

His Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service lawyer, appearing via telephone, said he wasn’t sure if he was confident in the instructions provided by Blitner.

Magistrate Stephen Courtney said he would grant Blitner bail on certain conditions.

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“I’m gonna make myself crystal clear. What I’m expecting to happen is for you to go back to the Novotel Hotel and behave,” he said.

“That is, do as your told and be nice to people.

“You will stay there until a flight is organised for you to go to Darwin.”

The matter was adjourned until July 15.