Chief Minister Michael Gunner on his way back to NT from Queensland, but NOT from a hot spot

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner is on his way home from a Queensland Christmas holiday with his family ... but is NOT coming from one of the newly declared hot spots, the Acting Chief Minister says

• Masks now compulsory at Territory airports as Brisbane and surrounds declared hotspot by NTG
• City of Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay and Redland City hot spots

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner is returning from a Queensland Christmas holiday with his family but is NOT coming from one of the newly declared hot spots.

Asthe NT declares the City of Brisbane, City of Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay Region and Redland City hot spots, acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison said Mr Gunner had phoned into National Cabinet from “a regional area in Queensland”.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner travelled to Queensland for a Christmas break with his family. He is now on his way back to the Territory but is not in any of the newly declared hot spots. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“He is making his way back to the Northern Territory,” she said.

“Now, clearly because of the meetings that we’ve had to have today it’s been a bit delayed … but, yes, he’s been at National Cabinet and in the SEMC meeting.”

Ms Manison said it “wasn’t irresponsible” of Mr Gunner to go to Queensland as things change rapidly, despite the Chief Minister telling Territorians back in August to stay in the Territory over the holiday period.

“I think he deserves a break, and he certainly made the assessment and knowing that if he had to come back in quarantine that it would be an expense, and it would be at his own personal expense, and it would be two weeks of quarantine,” Ms Manison said.

NT NEWS sizzling new deal: Get all your news for just $5 a month

At a press conference in December, Mr Gunner joked when it came to the home front, his wife Kristy O’Brien and son Hudson called the shots.

“If you’re going interstate these holidays pack 14 days and $2500 (in case you have to quarantine on the way home),” he joked.

Follow @PhillippaButt