Chief Minister Michael Gunner slams ‘Florida basement’ conspiracy theorists

Conspiracy theorists from the UK, US and Canada spreading unhinged stories about the Territory’s Covid-19 response have been taken to task.

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has unleashed on overseas conspiracy theorists spreading misinformation on the Northern Territory’s Covid-19 response.

In a press conference on Thursday morning, Mr Gunner described those sharing the ridiculous theories on social media sites as “tinfoil hat-wearing tossers sitting in their parent’s basements in Florida”.

It comes after a flurry of social media misinformation, including lies such as that the ADF was forcibly vaccinating Indigenous Territorians.

The NT News has seen videos posted to social media site Facebook containing blatant misinformation about the government’s response without providing any evidence.

Mr Gunner said the conspiracy theories were damaging to the Territory’s response, particularly in protecting Indigenous Territorians, and should be dismissed.

“We are trying to protect the oldest continuous culture on the planet. We have tens of thousands of history, law, custom and song to keep alive,” he said.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner described the creators of conspiracy theorists as “tinfoil hat-wearing tossers sitting in their parent’s basements in Florida”. Picture Glenn Campbell

“99.99 per cent of the BS flying around on the internet about the Territory is coming from flogs outside the Territory, mostly America, Canada and the UK.”

“People who have nothing better to do than make lies up about us because their own lives are so small and so sad – we don’t need to pay any attention to them.”

Mr Gunner’s strong rhetoric follows a statement from Binjari and Rockhole residents condemning misinformation being spread across social media about their own communities.

Binjari and Rockhole were plunged into a hard lockdown last week after a number of Covid-19 cases were discovered in the Indigenous community.

Residents are unable to leave their homes for even the five essential reasons, with ADF personnel tasked with supplying them with food and essentials.

Mr Gunner confirmed on Thursday morning that Rockhole would exit hard lockdown. The community would join the rest of Katherine in being in lockdown.