First interstate arrivals to the NT begin mandatory hotel quarantine ahead of pay-your-way period

THE FIRST non-essential interstate arrivals into the NT have started their 14-day mandatory quarantine period, after touching down in Darwin after midday on Thursday.

Travellers arrive at Darwin International Airport on Thursday, the first day that all interstate arrivals to the NT were required to go into 14-day mandatory quarantine. Picture Glenn Campbell

• Last interstate travellers fly in ahead of forced quarantine deadline
• Interstate NT arrivals to go into enforced quarantine too
• Arrivals from Dili become first into forced hotel quarantine in NT
• New international Territory arrivals to be sent to 14-day hotel self-isolation

THE FIRST non-essential interstate arrivals into Darwin have started their 14-day mandatory quarantine period, after touching down in Darwin after midday on Thursday.

After essential workers including police officers, ADF personnel and medical staff exited the international gate and made their own way to private isolation, non-essential workers and residents from flight QF840 from Sydney and flight QF850 from Perth boarded buses destined buses for Darwin hotels where passengers will be quarantined for two weeks.

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Ushered by security, about half of the passengers were quick to move from the gate to the bus, with some saying they were looking forward to getting through their isolation.

An interstate traveller waits outside Darwin International Airport on Thursday. Picture: Glenn Campbell

While most passengers remained tight lipped, one woman was frustrated at the process, having been told she’d be able to quarantine from home and said she’d now pass her quarantine “probably drinking alcohol”.

“The NT Police told me that I could go home, and now I can’t go home,” she said.

“They told me that I was allowed to go home after they informed me that I was going to the hotel then they come and got my drivers licence, and now they’re telling me that I have to go to a hotel.

“I am very angry.”

A passenger arriving at Darwin airport from interstate on Thursday makes her feelings on the new quarantine rules clear before the travellers were taken off to hotels. Picture Glenn Campbell

However others were simply longing to get the 14 days in isolation over and done with.

On Thursday, forced hotel quarantine rules came into force for anyone arriving from interstate. From midnight on Friday, arrivals will be forced to pay for the hotel stay themselves at a cost of $2500.

“It’ll be interesting,” said one Darwin resident, who will spend 14 days in the H on Smith Hotel, before returning to her home in the suburbs.

Two interstate travellers exit Darwin International Airport on Thursday. Picture Glenn Campbell

Taxi drivers still queued at the airport rank, confident essential workers and arrivals from intra-Territory flights would help pay their bills.

“We still get a few fares here and there, there’s no need to cry over spilt milk,” cabbie George Papantonakis said.

“The car isn’t on the road as much as I’d like it to be, but nothing (else) is open.

“If we can’t get fares here, we’ll go somewhere else.”

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A security guard directs an interstate traveller to waiting buses at Darwin International Airport on Thursday. Picture Glenn Campbell

Interstate flights from Cairns and Adelaide also arrived in Darwin on Thursday afternoon as well as an international flight from Dili.