Howard Springs to be ‘scaled up’ if deal struck with Federal Government: Gunner

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has revealed he’s jetting interstate for the first time since March, where a deal could be struck over ‘scaling up’ Howard Springs’ quarantine facility

THE Chief Minister will jet out of the Territory on Thursday for the first time since the pandemic began, hinting at a potential deal to get more overseas Australians home by Christmas.

Michael Gunner confirmed on Wednesday he was planning to travel to Sydney to meet the Prime Minister for a potential deal over “scaling up” Howard Springs after National Cabinet.

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It comes as a deal looks possible as soon as Friday between the Federal and NT governments over quarantining Australians returning from overseas at the Howard Springs workers camp.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday that the facility could play a major role in getting thousands of Australians stuck overseas back on home soil.

Mr Gunner said his top priority was getting stranded Australians back home before Christmas and “doing everything we can to save Territory jobs.”

“That will be top of the agenda when I meet the Prime Minister this week,” he said.

“I’m off to Sydney tomorrow to meet the PM – I will attend National Cabinet from Sydney.”

“We’ll be working together about how we can keep getting more Australians home.”

Chief Minister Michael Gunner will jet out of the Territory for the first time since March. Picture: Glenn Campbell

It comes as both the Federal and Territory governments appear likely to strike a deal over the Howard Springs quarantine facility.

“I just want to see more Australians home by Christmas,” Mr Gunner said.

“We’ll be talking about how we can scale up Howard Springs to do that,” he said.

It’s the first time the Chief Minister has travelled out of the Northern Territory since March, prior to restrictions being implemented across the country on flying.

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Mr Gunner also defended the Territory Government’s refusal to let seasonal workers from Vanuatu quarantine on farms, saying he was waiting for the Federal Government to assess the Pacific nation as “low risk” before considering the option.

He said he could find no evidence of workers quarantining on farms in Queensland, despite Country Liberal senator Dr Sam McMahon praising the Sunshine State for embracing the practice earlier this week.