Council raises communication concerns surrounding overseas ship it wasn’t told about until after arrival
THE Tiwi Islands Regional Council has raised concerns about communication surrounding COVID-19 quarantine arrangements at a remote port after it was not informed an international vessel was berthing at the facility until after it anchored
Northern Territory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE Tiwi Islands Regional Council has raised concerns about communication surrounding COVID-19 quarantine arrangements at Port Melville after it was not informed an international vessel was berthing at the facility until it had already anchored.
The Liberian bulk carrier Enterprise, travelling from Manila, anchored in Tiwi Islands waters on January 18, before berthing to collect logs harvested on Melville Island on January 27 and departing on February 6.
The 20 crew members disembarked for 24 hours on February 4, after completing 14 days of quarantine.
MORE COVID-19 NEWS
Flight crew member fined for COVID-19 breach in Darwin
Nebulisers banned at NT’s Howard Springs quarantine facility after Melbourne Holiday Inn outbreak
NT declares Melbourne COVID-19 quarantine hotel Holiday Inn as a hot spot after cluster grows
The NT News understands NT Port and Marine — which operates Port Melville, the Tiwi Plantations Corporation, Tiwi Land Council and the NT government managed the vessel’s berthing in line with COVID-19 safety procedures, and were not required to inform the regional council.
But Tiwi Islands Regional Council chief executive Valerie Rowland and Mayor Leslie Tungutalum said councillors were concerned they had not been told in advance given the health risks posed by overseas vessels amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
$1 FOR ALL YOUR NEWS? Sign up now to our amazing deal of $1 for 28 days
“I think it was just a case of poor communication, but you can’t do that when there’s a pandemic and this boat has come from a hot spot,” Ms Rowland said.
“We’re a small jurisdiction, and being a local government statutory body, we thought we should have been informed and alerted beforehand.
“My understanding is all the checks and balances were carried out. We were just left out of the loop.”
Fair play or council cluck up?: Chook limits soon enforced
In a change that has ruffled more than a few feathers, Darwin residents could soon be fined more than $9000 for keeping too many chooks.
Aboriginal cops in human rights complaint against NT Police Commissioner
Three serving Aboriginal NT Police officers have lodged a formal complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission alleging ‘racial vilification and derision’ in what is being hailed as ‘landmark case’.