Borders decision will be a true test of leadership for Chief Minister Michael Gunner

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner’s leadership will face its acid test in coming weeks as the business community increases pressure on him to let interstate travellers in and help save businesses and jobs 

Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s leadership will face its acid test in the coming weeks. Picture: Glenn Campbell

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CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner’s leadership will face its acid test in the coming weeks.

As the business community increases pressure on Mr Gunner to lift our hard borders to let interstate travellers in to enjoy our dry season and help save businesses and jobs, it is putting the Chief Minister in a precarious position.

On the other side of the argument, he has the leaders of the land councils and health experts telling him not to open the borders too early and risk coronavirus entering the Territory and potentially into already health-impacted remote communities.

Mr Gunner has been steadfast in his response, yesterday saying he will only open the borders when it’s safe and that he won’t be pandering to the business community’s demands.

At this point in time, his tough stance is to be commended but at some point in the coming weeks, the borders debate will reach a tipping point.

Economically, the Territory was already several billion dollars in debt before the coronavirus crisis hit.

Given the fact Mr Gunner and Treasurer Nicole Manison are choosing not to reveal the true state of the books, business has every reason to be concerned about the long-lasting economic impact of this crisis.

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The reality is the longer our borders stay closed, more businesses will shut down and the population drain from the Territory will be even worse than it already was.

Mr Gunner himself has said closing the borders was the easy part. It’s choosing when to re-open them that will make him lose sleep at night. It is arguably the toughest decision he will have to make in his chief ministership so far.

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The other significant factor at play in the borders war is the Territory election, which is only three months away.

At this point, it seems popular with most Territorians to keep the borders closed. But, soon, that will translate into lost jobs and lost businesses forever.

When people start seeing that sort of impact, that support can end abruptly and brutally.