NT quarantine exemption wait times blow out to 21 days

PEOPLE applying for mandatory quarantine exemptions have been told they may have to wait 21 days before a decision is made, as the Health Department revealed it has been inundated with requests.

PEOPLE applying for mandatory quarantine exemptions have been told they may have to wait 21 days before a decision is made, as the Health Department revealed it has been inundated with requests.

Data obtained by the Sunday Territorian revealed more than 12,000 people have entered the NT since tough coronavirus border restrictions came into effect on April 1.

More than 6700 of those, mainly frontline workers from health, defence, police or those carrying freight, were granted exemptions.

MORE NT CORONAVIRUS NEWS

Treasurer Nicole Manison flags tough budget to help ease NT’s battered finances

AFP officers’ NT exit may put strain on Territory border controls

‘F**k me that’s my fault’: Chief Minister Michael Gunner reveals the heavy mental toll of responding to the coronavirus pandemic

Travellers arriving at Darwin International Airport face long waits to find if they can claim quarantine exemption. Picture: Glenn Campbell

An NT Health spokeswoman said it was “not possible to provide an estimate for a turnaround time” of applications due to the volume of applications, with about 1500 currently being processed.

The NT Government’s coronavirus information page says processing applications can “take up to 10 business days”.

But the Sunday Territorian understands travellers have been told to wait up to 21 days, with some receiving decisions on their exemptions days before their quarantine stints are over.

Darwin man Darren Parish, a vessel superintendent working in Denmark when the pandemic began sweeping the globe, was forced to leave Europe for home after his visa expired.

He was put into 14 days’ mandatory quarantine in Perth, where he was cleared of coronavirus, and hoped NT authorities would allow him to fly home to Darwin and isolate at his family’s home instead of paying $2500 at a hotel.

But the 52-year-old was told by NT authorities he would have to wait 21 days for a response, forcing him to fly back anyway.

“I’m aware of the requirements and I appreciate them … I’m just disappointed with the lack of responsiveness,” Mr Parish said.

Full access to our journalism – just $1 for the first 28 days

The NT Health spokeswoman said applicants who had not heard back could “be assured” that the application process was being managed.

“The department is installing an automated software solution that will further assist in streamlining the application and approval process to meet the high demand of exemptions,” she said.