NT Greens call for US Marines deployment delay amid coronavirus pandemic

THE NT Greens have called for a delay in the deployment of 2500 US Marines, who are due to start arriving in Darwin next month, to avoid the risk of spreading the coronavirus

The majority of the 2500 personnel in this year’s US Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) are expected to arrive in early April, with the rest to arrive in early July

THE NT Greens have called for a delay in the deployment of 2500 US Marines, who are due to start arriving in Darwin next month, to avoid the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

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The majority of the 2500 personnel in this year’s US Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) are expected to arrive in early April, with the rest to arrive in early July.

Greens candidate for Nightcliff Billee McGinley warns the deployment should be postponed until local viral risk is better understood.

“This deployment of 2500 USA Marines comes at the worst possible time,” she said.

“Viral spread in the USA is worsening by the day, with many Marines placed on an operational pause.”

Greens candidate for Nightcliff Billee McGinley is urgently calling for the US deployment to be postposed

“We’ve called previously for the NT Chief Minister to take an active role in setting boundaries for the visiting forces — This time it’s urgent.”

A spokeswoman from MRF-D said before arriving in Australia all the US service members will be screened by medical personnel for symptoms and other risk factors associated with COVID-19. Any symptomatic personnel will not deploy.

“All personnel arriving to Australia will follow the 14-day self-isolation in line with the policy imposed by the Australian government,” she said.

“Once we have ensured those in isolation are free of the virus, operations will proceed as scheduled.”

However, Ms McGinley remains sceptical if those protocols for quarantine are adequate.

“If they do come to Darwin, where will these visitors sit out the declared 14-day quarantine?” she said.

“And how can they manage the increased risk of concentrating 2500 suspect bodies in close quarters?”

“Last weekend, the Prime Minister acknowledged the significant role of the Chief Minister in managing the specific risks faced by remote indigenous Territorians who are understood to be particularly vulnerable.”

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“Today, we’re urging the Chief Minister to step up and assert a leadership role in managing the specific risk presented by thousands of visiting foreign servicemen.”