NLC chairman announces travel to remote Aboriginal communities restricted
The Northern Land Council has restricted travel into Aboriginal communities to essential NT Government staff only.
Northern Territory
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THE Northern Land Council has restricted travel into Aboriginal communities to essential NT Government staff only, in an attempt to protect First Nations people from the Tanami Desert Covid-19 outbreak.
In a statement on Sunday afternoon, NLC chairman Samuel Bush-Blanasi said travel into remote Aboriginal communities, or travel to areas that involves crossing Aboriginal land, was restricted to NT Government essential services staff and functions effective immediately.
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All permits issued for travel over the next 48 hours are also suspended.
Mr Bush-Blanasi said the NLC head office in Darwin would also be closed for the duration of the lockdown, and staff travel has been restricted until further notice.
He said the actions were consistent with the NLC’s approach to Covid-19 in March 2020.
“The message is the same as last year: ‘Stay Safe, Stay on Country and Care for Family’,” he said.
He also urged Territorians to receive their Covid-19 information from reputable sources, alongside Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker’s plea not to listen to “rumour and innuendo”.
“People shouldn’t listen to gossip being spread on Facebook and other social media sites –
particularly about something as serious as this,” he said.
“The best information is available at the NT Government website coronavirus.nt.gov.au or on reliable media outlets like the NT News or the ABC.”
In a press conference on Sunday, Mr Chalker said there was no indication of Covid-19 being spread to remote communities.
“I want to reassure all regional residents is there is currently no test that is returned positive within your remote communities,” he said.
“There is some social media indicating that that’s the case, that is not the case.”
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