Territory newsagents reopen after last-minute addition to essential worker list

Territory newsagents have been allowed to reopen from today after a belated decision to add them to the list of essential workers.

Darwin newsagents have been allowed to reopen from Wednesday

TERRITORY newsagents are celebrating today after a last minute decision to add them to the list of essential workers overnight.

The national newsagents association had called on its NT members to lobby their local MLAs demanding answers as to why their businesses were not considered essential during lockdown.

But on Wednesday morning, Australian Lottery and Newsagents’ Association chief executive

Hey @TheNTNews have you heard that the CHO of NT has declared that newsagents are NOT essential. In every other state they have been considered essential and offered safe access to news and other essential services / products. Newsagents need your help. #covidnt

— Mark Fletcher (@emef) June 29, 2021

Ben Kearney said Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s office had been in touch to deliver the good news.

“Newsagents may now reopen immediately as per the (Chief Health Officer’s) directives,” he said.

“We would like to thank our members for their patience while we sorted this out.”

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The ALNA had sought clarification from the NT government about not making the list but were previously told other, essential retailers could provide the same services.

The ALNA said in a statement that deeming newsagents non-essential was inconsistent with other jurisdictions that had also gone into lockdown.

“Newsagents provide a critical essential access point for news, basic essentials and information for many older members of our community who don’t access their information digitally and they are also an important place where these people receive social assistance,” it reads.

“They are specialists for news media and have been vital in previous lockdowns (and extensions), servicing 35 per cent of the community every week.

“They are a sensible risk-based approach to limiting crowding in supermarkets, while providing important necessities (office supplies) for those working or studying from home, as well as basic conveniences like milk, toiletries, games, puzzles and entertainment to support the health and wellbeing of people forced to stay at home during these periods.”