Forgetting the harsh lessons of 2020 will only hurt the NT’s chances of prosperity in 2021

2020 is now behind us, but that doesn’t mean the spectre of the year from hell won’t cast a shadow over the Territory’s prospects for 2021

The Territory can’t forget the lessons of 2020. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

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2020 is now behind us, but that doesn’t mean the spectre of the year from hell won’t cast a shadow over the Territory’s prospects for 2021.

We have all learned some hard lessons in the past 12 months. Our travel plans have been severely compromised, how we interact and our personal hygiene in public places have improved for the better.

We have been encouraged to not go to work sick and think about our health as a society, not only as individuals.

Thousands of careers have been hugely impacted and several major industries which previously seemed to be untouchable have been decimated and are now on the path to recovery.

Territorians have been lucky to only experience a short-lived lockdown. Ask anyone who has returned from down south. They will tell you just how fortunate we have been to retain our the majority of our pre-COVID lifestyle.

We can’t take anything for granted. The virus could make it’s way into our community at any time.

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Several Top End residents came close to an active case while flying home for Christmas. That is how quickly and easily a person can be exposed to the virus even if they are taking all the necessary precautions.

New strains are developing overseas, the virus is changing and becoming more contagious.

The uncertainty around when life will return to normal globally will linger for months, if not the entire year.

And until a vaccine is rolled out, nothing can be taken as a certainty.

But this doesn’t mean the Territory won’t be able to prosper in the same fashion it did in the back end of last year.

Many Territorians took the opportunity to holiday at home and explore our own backyard, or even just have a break at one of the many hotels in the CBD.

In the lead up to Christmas retailers, restaurants and pubs were able to make up some lost ground because more people than usually opted to stay in the Top End instead of travelling interstate for festive season out of fear of being caught up on a COVID hot spot.

Despite the doom and gloom there have been some positives to come out what has been one of the most complex time the majority of humanity has lived through.

But hard lessons learned can’t be forgotten.

Because if we do the consequences will be very real and harsh.

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