Come on in ... now get out: Exemptions revoked for interstate arrivals already in quarantine, told to pack bags and leave

Reports have emerged of NT health officials flip-flopping on interstate arrivals, with at least six exemptions to quarantine having been revoked since August.

QUESTIONS have been raised over the Territory’s management of interstate arrivals after reports have emerged of exemptions being revoked for people days after entering the NT and beginning supervised quarantine.

The flip-flopping advice by the NT’s chief health officer Hugh Heggie has dashed plans for at least six interstate arrivals since last month, who have been ordered to immediately book a flight home at their own expense or face a $5000 fine.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a woman quarantining at the Howard Springs facility said a pair of electricians with ongoing work contracts were approached by police on Monday and told investigations had uncovered they did not have a valid reason to be in the Territory.

“They’ve already been here for six days,” she said.

“They say they both have work contracts and six month leases, which they submitted to the CHO when they applied for the exemption.”

The woman said the sudden revocation had left the sparkies in a difficult position and thousands of dollars out of pocket.

“One of them has nowhere to go,” she said.

“His ute with all his tools is on a train, on its way from Sydney, which he said cost $1400. We also have to pay for Howard Springs at our own expense.

“It wasn’t their fault that they got approved, came, and then got told to leave.”

The NT News understands both men have challenged the decision and are remaining at the quarantine facility until a review is completed.

A swabbing team at the Howard Springs quarantine facility in Darwin. Picture Glenn Campbell

Three more hospitality workers who arrived at the facility on Monday were ordered by police to pack their bags and leave on the very same day, according to the anonymous observer.

She said the hospitality workers would likely feel the pinch given the state of the industry in locked down cities.

“For those guys in hospo – a couple of them came from Sydney – they probably haven’t worked for the last 11 weeks,” she said.

“And if they’ve come from Melbourne, that’s five weeks.

“It’s a huge expense to move to the Northern Territory at the moment when you’re coming from a locked down state.

“People don’t just do it on a whim or for a holiday. This seems pretty rough.”

The revelations come weeks after star jockey Glen Boss was booted from Howard Springs shortly after arriving from Sydney, crushing his hopes of competing in the Melbourne Cup in November.

NT Health was contacted for comment but did not provide a response before deadline.

As the Howard Springs facility edged closer to full capacity last month, Chief Minister Michael Gunner banned non-approved travel to the Territory from declared hotspots, but said those with legitimate reasons to quarantine would be provided exemptions.

Mr Gunner said people relocating to the Territory or travelling for work purposes or compassionate reasons may be granted an exemption.

He also said returning NT residents would have an “express lane home”, with automatice approval to quarantine in Darwin or Alice Springs.