NT government to pay hiked up airfare prices after chaos following sudden border closure

THE NT Government has promised to pay for people who arrived in Darwin from Sydney on a flight that was just about to land when Greater Sydney was declared a hotspot

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THE NT Government has promised to pay for people who arrived in Darwin on a flight that which was just about to land when greater Sydney was declared a hotspot to return to NSW.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles made the announcement in a press conference today following chaotic scenes on Sunday where a plane load of people were told they would be forced into the Howard Springs facility over the Christmas period.

People were also given the opportunity to return to Sydney, however Ms Fyles said those return flights will also be paid for.

“Our welfare teams will work with them around flights back to Sydney,” she said.

“We do understand a few people booked themselves (on flights back to Sydney). We will work with them to make sure they are reimbursed for that cost.”

The NT Government announced around 3pm on Sunday that greater Sydney had become a COVID-19 hotspot, effective immediately, while a plane load of people from the Sydney were still in the air.

When asked why the government didn’t implement the hotspot from midnight like other jurisdictions, Ms Fyles said the decision was made at a cabinet meeting that concluded at 2.30pm.

“We don’t have the ability to control flight schedules, we make the decision based on the advice when we are provided that,” she said.

“We have been very clear that domestic travel is not what we’re used to, and that decisions and things can change very rapidly. Even if people are in the air.”

Ms Fyles confirmed that a flight landed from Sydney landed in Yulara just hours before the declaration was made, and that people on that flight need to remain in isolation until they test negative for the virus.

“We have sent resources to Yulara to undertake that testing and get those results as quickly as we can.”

She said the testing capacity at the Darwin Pandemic Clinic had been doubled to accomodate for the thousands of people who have arrived in the NT since December 11 and will now have to get tested for COVID-19.

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