NTPA and Chief Minister in Facebook war of words over social media strategy
Michael Gunner has hit back on social media at the Northern Territory Police Association after it accused him of using social media to ‘politicise Covid’.
Northern Territory
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THE Northern Territory Police Association has lashed Chief Minister Michael Gunner for using his Facebook page to ‘politicise Covid’.
And Mr Gunner has used Facebook to fire back, accusing the NTPA of also politicising Covid-19.
It comes after the Chief Minister faced criticism in the media and from various groups for using his political Facebook page to announce the Territory had recorded zero Covid-19 cases on Wednesday morning.
The NTPA made the stunning intervention after Mr Gunner then posted about the upcoming Daly by-election on his Facebook page on Thursday, after his office had already distributed a press release announcing the date.
“What a complete insult to those apolitical hard working government and non government employees out there actually keeping us safe,” the police union wrote.
“The (chief health officer) issues directions based on national and local health advice, the Territory Controller makes that happen, and the (Chief Minister) speaks into a microphone to update us.
“To politicise Covid is completely outrageous, how dare you? Are we all not in this together?”
Following the criticism of his Facebook strategy, Mr Gunner took to Facebook to return serve.
“I will not be bullied or silenced by a union on how we protect Territorians from Covid,” he said.
“The CLP made the political decision last year that we should open our borders during Victoria’s second wave.
“The CLP made the political decision this year we should give away our vaccines to Sydney.
“The NTPA choosing to support the CLPs decision to open our borders and give away our vaccines is a failure to protect every serving officer and the union should apologise to them.”
This is despite the CLP being unable to make decisions, given its in opposition.
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