Covidiot protests endanger NT tourism as more vouchers hinted at, Minister Fyles says

Tourism Minister Natasha Fyles has hinted at an early round of tourism vouchers to help operators smashed by border closures, warning that reckless protesters are risking longer lockdowns.

• Darwin anti-vaxxer protest slammed as ‘extremely dangerous’ to health, the economy

SELFISH drongos who took to the streets of Australian capital cities over the weekend are ruining any last chance of a recovery for the Territory’s tourism industry.

NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles has also hinted the successful tourism vouchers could make an early return to help struggling operators hit by border closures at the height of the dry season.

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Ms Fyles slammed the demonstrations as setting back Australia’s efforts to combat Covid-19 after a series of rallies across the country on Saturday.

Anti-lockdown protests in Sydney turned violent, despite that city recording hundreds of cases daily

“It was extremely disappointing to see interstate protests with thousands of people failing to follow the necessary health measures which has kept our country safe,” Ms Fyles said.

“No one wants to be in lockdown, but these reckless protests only risk triggering longer lockdowns and harsher restrictions.”

Numptys from Sydney protesting in the CBD, despite the city dealing with hundreds of cases. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

“We need lockdowns to end but at the same time we can’t risk letting the virus enter our community.”

When asked what support the NT government was making available to tourism operators, Ms Fyles said she was continuing to negotiate.

“Last year we worked with industry to put in place tourism vouchers which have proven successful.”

Over 500 twits from a protest in Sydney have been fined.

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