CLC deputy questions if economy is more important than lives in the Northern Territory

THE Central Land Council’s deputy chair has questioned if the economy is more important than the lives of Territorians as the NT Government comes under increasing pressure to keep borders closed

CLC deputy chair Barbara Shaw says she is worried about the NT’s borders reopening on July 17

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THE Central Land Council’s deputy chair has questioned if the economy is more important than the lives of Territorians as the NT Government comes under increasing pressure to keep borders closed.

The CLC ramped up its calls for the NT Government to keep the Territory’s borders closed after the NT recorded its first coronavirus case in nearly three months on Thursday.

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CLC deputy chair Barbara Shaw questioned if boosting the economy and tourism is worth the risk to the health and lives of all Territorians.

“Is this about money and the economy or is it about keeping everyone safe from sickness and death?” she told the Centralian Advocate.

“It’s a scary thought but coronavirus is a killer and there isn’t a vaccine yet.”

Ms Shaw said the dozens of people who have flouted quarantine conditions in the Northern Territory is also very worrying.

A total 20,813 compliance checks have been completed and around 100 fines issued.

“I’d encourage all Territorians to ... do the right thing with social distancing and quarantining. People need to think about their families,” she said.

“If one Aboriginal person gets it in a remote community it will spread and it will be hard to contain.

“As a Territorian I believe the NT Government should keep the Territory safe.”

Central Land Council chair Sammy Wilson told the Centralian Advocate the new case of COVID-19 in Darwin, which came from an interstate traveller, was worrying.

“This is exactly what we are worried about and why we called for the NT borders to stay closed,” he said.

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But Chief Minister Michael Gunner said it is simply inevitable that the Territory will record more cases of coronavirus after the Territory’s 87-day clear streak was broken.

Mr Gunner, currently on a week-long work trip in Central Australia, said the NT should “expect this to happen again”.

“Coronavirus isn’t going anywhere for a while. We can’t get rid of it completely – not yet. We don’t have a vaccine and Australia is not corona free,” he said.

“I know it’s hard to hear, but it’s the truth,” he said.

Originally published as CLC deputy questions if economy is more important than lives in the Northern Territory