Chief Minister urged to reopen NT border immediately
CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner is being urged to “see some sense” and immediately reopen NT’s borders by Territory Alliance. It comes as SA prepares to open its borders tonight
Northern Territory
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CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner is being urged to “see some sense” and immediately reopen NT’s borders by Territory Alliance.
Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills the NT could not afford to put off opening the borders any longer.
It comes as South Australia opens its borders to NT, WA and Tasmania from midnight Tuesday.
“It is time now to open up the Territory to visitors from these states before more of the economically critical Dry Season disappears,” Mr Mills said.
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The Chief Minister said yesterday he was looking to reopen NT’s borders around July 20 but Mr Mills argues there’s no reason why they can’t open earlier.
“The actions the Chief Minister took as a health imperative, while necessary at the time, has devastated whole sectors of the Territory economy not least of which is the tourism sector,” he said.
“Families are yearning to be reunited with interstate relatives, it’s time to allow the all-important reunification of families to occur.
“Grandparents, adult children, siblings, all trapped inside the closed borders from their usual travel for the upcoming school holidays.”
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He claimed that Mr Gunner’s reluctance to open our borders showed how little he understood the effect the border closure has had on the business community.
“If businesses don’t have customers they done make money and if they don’t make money they can’t pay staff, it’s not rocket science,” Mr Mills said.
“The Dry Season is vital to our tourism industry and every day that passes without borders open it hurts deeply. If we want to have any sort of industry left after this year, we need to get customers through the door.
“Continuing to keep borders closed between states that have proven they have are effectively managing the coronavirus is economic vandalism.”
Originally published as Chief Minister urged to reopen NT border immediately