Bus traveller says they had ‘no checks’ on two-day, NT border crossing journey

THE Darwin mother of a self-quarantined bus traveller said she is shocked that no health checks were allegedly made on passengers at stops during the two and half-day journey

Police check vehicles on the South Australia and Northern Territory border. Picture Chloe Erlich

THE Darwin mother of a self-quarantined bus traveller said she is shocked that no health checks were allegedly made on passengers at stops during the two and half-day journey.

The bus from Adelaide had Territory stops in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine before arriving in Darwin where passengers were allowed to “wander off” in all directions with still no health officers to greet them.

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“We were told that health officers would meet the bus in Alice Springs where passengers would be directed to isolate together until the bus departed again for its next stop,” the woman said.

“Instead they were dropped off in Todd St and allowed to roam the town for three hours.

“It was the same for the rest of the journey with passengers getting off and allowed to roam around.

“Even after my son arrived in Darwin it wasn’t until the following day that any health checks were made on him to make sure he was self-quarantining.

“If this is the level of health precautions I think it is more dumb luck that we haven’t had more cases of coronavirus arrive in the Territory.”

Greyhound did not reply to a request for comment.

A spokesman from NT Health said the department was investigating.

An NT Police spokesman said the standard procedure for police was when a vehicle (bus, car etc) arrived at any border checkpoint, the vehicle was required to stop and provide the compulsory NT border arrival form and identification,” they said.

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“If the person declares their intent to stay in the NT, they must travel directly to their specified place of quarantine and remain there for 14 days.”