SA, WA leaders won’t budge on ‘travel bubble’ with Northern Territory

HOPES of establishing a ‘travel bubble’ between the NT, WA and SA have been dashed, with both neighbouring states joining Chief Minister Michael Gunner in refusing to budge on border restrictions

Hopes of establishing a ‘travel bubble’ with the NT, WA and SA have been dashed, with both neighbouring states joining Chief Minister Michael Gunner in refusing to budge on border restrictions. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

HOPES of establishing a “travel bubble” with the NT, WA and SA have been dashed, with both neighbouring states joining Chief Minister Michael Gunner in refusing to budge on border restrictions.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said having a hard border was his state’s “strongest weapon” and would be the last restriction lifted. A spokesman from SA Premier Steven Marshall’s office said his position on maintaining the state’s border restrictions had not changed.

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It comes after the head of the Darwin Major Business Group, Ian Kew, told the NT News the Northern Territory Government should make a tri-border pact with South Australia and Western Australia to open up our borders.

Mr Kew was critical of the Chief Minister’s pledge that the Northern Territory Government would move last on opening borders.

“Is that a decision he has made in consultation with the Territory’s business and industry sectors?” Mr Kew said.

A Darwin business group is proposing a NT, WA and SA 'travel bubble'.

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Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on the ABC’s Q&A programMonday night that she would consider opening Queensland’s borders for jurisdictions including the NT and South Australia before allowing travel from other jurisdictions.

Qld Premier would consider allowing travel from the Northern Territory

“There could be some opportunity for some travel with SA for example, maybe with the NT,” she said.

“We really want to see our tourism industry thrive into the future, we’re really hurting at the moment.”

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She said Queensland would review its border restrictions at the end of each month.

“It (when the borders are opened) depends very much on how community transmission goes in Victoria and New South Wales because unfortunately there’s more community transmission down there and don’t want to see it happening here in Queensland,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

NT Airports chief executive Tony Edmondstone said he was supportive of the opening of borders based on the profile of each state.

“The hospitality, tourism and transport sectors are experiencing an unprecedented decline in activity and this is impacting NT Airports as well as a number of our airline, retail, commercial and car rental contractors,” Mr Edmondstone said.

“Subject to appropriate health advice, we would support a staged approach to opening the Territory borders.”