Gunner challenged to release scientific advice that is keeping NT borders closed
CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has been challenged to release the scientific advice that is keeping the Territory’s borders closed — and warned he is risking mass job losses
Northern Territory
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CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has been challenged to release the scientific advice that is keeping the Northern Territory’s borders closed.
Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham has warned that the Chief Minister and every other state leader, who has their borders closed, is risking mass job losses in tourism and hospitality if the border lockdowns continue.
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Mr Birmingham has been supported by Prime Minister Scott Morrison who has also called on Mr Gunner and other states to justify keeping their borders closed, warning they were hurting the economy and tourism businesses.
“The expert medical advice at a national level never recommended internal borders,” the Prime Minister told Sky News.
“It’s not good for the economy, especially as you go into the school holiday season. Those businesses need that support.”
Mr Birmingham told The Australian that every state should be ready to reopen its borders when it had been demonstrated that the lifting of restrictions had not caused a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Senator Birmingham said there was no commonwealth medical advice that borders should be closed, pointing to Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly’s comments that “we didn’t see a reason to close them in the first place”.
“Once it has been demonstrated that all parts of economic activity can be safely reactivated without any increase in COVID numbers, then state borders should open up too,” Senator Birmingham said.
“It will be up to each state to explain their decision and the firm health advice and rationale behind keeping their borders closed.
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“If they decide to maintain some borders and not others, or maintain complete border control, well that’s something they’re going to have to release clear health advice on.
“They are going to have to defer to their tourism industry and others who will face greater economic loss as a result of those decisions. The economic toll, the loss of business viability and the loss of jobs will only mount over time.
The longer such restrictions are in place, the more businesses will come under pressure, the more jobs will be lost.”
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