Cancel your interstate holiday plans, Chief Minister Michael Gunner warns Territorians

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner is asking Territorians to cancel their Christmas holidays plans interstate with NT’s border controls expected to remain until 2022

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CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner is asking Territorians to cancel their Christmas holidays plans interstate with NT’s border controls expected to remain until 2022.

Mr Gunner told ABC News Breakfast that NT’s “hard border controls” would be in place for at least the next 18 months.

The NT opened its borders on July 17 to most of Australia, excluding arrivals from declared hot spots who are required to complete 14-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival.

“We’ll have our hard border controls in place for at least the next 18 months, and we are resourcing so we can do that,” Mr Gunner said.

“We have got an indefinite ban on Victoria, and Sydney keeps bubbling away to a point to I can’t give you a date where that would ever lift.

“My advice to every Territorian, if you can, stay here in the Territory. You’re safe here, don’t go.

“If you can, cancel your Christmas holiday plans, stay here in the Northern Territory.”

Health Minister Natasha Fyles was forced to clarify Mr Gunner’s comments about “hard border controls” today and reiterated that NT’s borders had not closed overnight.

“If you come from a hotspot, you’re not welcome, you will go into mandatory quarantine,” she said. “If you come from another location, we welcome you here.”

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