NT News editorial: Gunner Govt walking fine line on restrictions

THE Gunner Government is walking a very fine line when it comes to considering easing social restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic

Chief Minister Michael Gunner has some big decisions to make if the COVID-19 cases in the Territory continue to fall

• NT Government rejects Chamber’s call for businesses to reopen
• Chamber of Commerce calls for businesses to reopen within weeks

THE Gunner Government is walking a very fine line when it comes to considering easing social restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic.

There is a lot on the line either way.

1. Ease restrictions too early and risk coronavirus getting out of hand when it’s now under relative control in the NT.

2. Don’t ease restrictions quickly enough and let the economy continue to suffer and seriously put at risk the mental health of tens of thousands of Territorians.

All political leaders around the nation have been strident in their messaging that this is a six-month process but Australians are watching the coronavirus numbers knowing that things are slowing down.

Australians and Territorians understand they have to do their bit and, apart from a very small minority, they have carried out their restrictions with aplomb.

But if the numbers keep falling, it is going to be very difficiult for political leaders to effectively keep people in their own homes.

A public order problem will present itself.

Closing the Territory’s borders has worked wonders, so to has the closing of Australia’s borders generally.

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We believe Australia’s and the Territory’s borders should remain closed for a long time yet but given the slowing COVID-19 situation in Australia right now, it should not automatically mean pubs, clubs and restaurants should also stay closed indefinitely.

From the federal government down, they are saying they are planning for a way out of these onerous restrictions but the finer details of what that looks like are being kept under wraps.

All state and territory governments have been open and transparent throughout this crisis, except for telling Australians when they might get out of this.

This needs to change over the coming days. We all deserve to know the truth.

The “six months of restrictions” message needs to end and it’s time for governments to come clean about what specific data they are looking at when it comes to easing restrictions.

The Gunner Government especially has to be careful.

With an election only four months away, some will start questioning whether or not they are playing politics, knowing the longer the crisis goes on the better chance they are of being re-elected.