Cracker night delayed but Chief Minister Michael Gunner promises NT will ‘have one hell of a party’
Territory Day has been postponed but the Chief Minister promised when the time was right the NT would “have one hell of a party”.
Northern Territory
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TERRITORY Day has been postponed but Chief Minister Michael Gunner promises that when the time is right the NT will “have one hell of a party”.
The July 1 celebrations, also known as cracker night, celebrates the day the NT declared independence from the Commonwealth Government in 1978.
The day is widely celebrated in the NT with the use of fireworks.
Last year Territory Day fireworks celebrations were cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic and a 72-hour extension to this week’s lockdown has again stopped the event from going ahead on Thursday.
Mr Gunner said all events scheduled for Thursday had been cancelled due to the lockdown.
“Territory Day and its events including public and private fireworks will be delayed across the Territory,” he said.
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“We will not be celebrating Territory Day on the first of July, but we will celebrate it soon, I promise you.
“It is not cancelled it is delayed.”
Mr Gunner could not say when celebrations would be held because the coronavirus crisis unfolding in the Top End was still not under control.
“Once we are through this we will name a new day and we will have one hell of a party as one Territory,” he said.
Fusion Fireworks owner Luke Caridi said he supported the Chief Minister’s decision to extend the lockdown and postpone cracker night for the safety of Territorians.
“We do have a lot of product already being distributed to remote communities … it’s positive they’ve said they’ve postponed it because it’ll be a big feat to bring it all back,” Mr Caridi said.
“Really what we’re waiting for is to see when it (cracker night) will be and then we can adapt accordingly.”
Work had already started to set up a stage at Mindil Beach for the free concert but on Monday morning there were no labourers in sight.
The CBD and major roads that would normally hum with traffic were also eerily quiet, as people adhered to the chief health officer’s lockdown orders and stayed home.
Those who have headed outdoors have donned masks and socially distanced from others.
Essential services that have remained open have put in place social distancing measures with cafes and restaurants removing tables and chairs and only offering takeaway.
Police have urged people to follow orders around wearing masks with Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker saying cops had taken an educational rather than punitive approach to encourage people to wear a mask. Masks are mandatory when leaving home, even when exercising.
TERRITORY Day has been postponed but Chief Minister Michael Gunner has promised, when the time is right the NT will “have one hell of a party”.
The July 1 celebrations, also known as cracker night, celebrates the NT gaining self government.
The day is widely celebrated in the NT with the use of fireworks.
Last year Territory Day fireworks celebrations were cancelled because of the pandemic.
This marks the second year in a row Covid-19 has affected Territory Day celebrations.
Mr Gunner said all events on Thursday have been cancelled due to the lockdown.
“Territory Day and it’s events including public and private fireworks will be delayed across the Territory,” he said.
“We will not be celebrating Territory Day on the first of July, but we will celebrate it soon, I promise you.
“It is not cancelled it is delayed.”
He could not say when celebrations would be held as he situation was still unfolding.
“Once we are through this we will name a new day and we will have one hell of a party as one Territory,” he said.
Fusion Fireworks owner Luke Caridi said he supported the Chief Minister’s decision to extend the lockdown and postpone cracker night for the safety of Territorians.
“We do have a lot of product already being distributed to remote communities it’s positive that they’ve said that they’ve postponed it because it’ll be a big feat to bring it all back,” Mr Caridi said.
“Really what we’re waiting for is to see when it (cracker night) will be, and then we can adapt accordingly.”
Work had begun to set up the stage at Mindil Beach for the free concert, however on Monday morning it was empty of labourers.
The CBD, and major roads that would normally hum with traffic were also eerily quiet, as people adhered to the Chief Health Officer’s lockdown orders and stayed home.
Those who have headed outdoors have donned masks and socially distanced from others.
Essential services that have remained open have put in place social distancing measures with cafes and restaurants removing tables and chairs and only allowing takeaway.
Police have urged people to follow orders around wearing masks with Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker saying cops had taken an educational rather than punitive approach to encourage people to wear a mask.
The NT Government clarified on Monday that masks were mandatory for those out exercising.
It comes after confusion on Sunday with the requirement to wear a mask while undertaking strenuous exercise.
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