NT forced quarantine cost could increase as southerners use jurisdiction as gateway

HOW much hot spot travellers pay to quarantine in the Northern Territory may be increased, with Chief Minister Michael Gunner revealing southerners were using facilities in the coronavirus-free jurisdiction as a gateway to places like Queensland.

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HOW much hot spot travellers pay to quarantine in the Northern Territory may be increased, with Chief Minister Michael Gunner revealing southerners were using facilities in the coronavirus-free jurisdiction as a gateway to places like Queensland.

A total of 3080 people have been forced to isolate for two weeks at their expense in either the Howard Springs quarantine facility in the Top End of the facility down in Alice Springs since the NT moved to targeted border measures on July 17.

In the same time frame, a stunning 62,974 people entered the Territory by road, rail, sea and air — close to half the population of Darwin.

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Videographer Ben Sale has been documenting everyday life inside the Howard Springs quarantine facility during his stay there. Picture: Ben Sale/ Other Side Productions

The two week stint is meant to cost, bar exemptions or discounts on compassionate grounds or hardship, $2500 per person or up to $5000 for a family.

But Mr Gunner, in an ABC Radio interview on Thursday morning, confirmed mandatory quarantine costs the government on average about $3300 or $3400 per person

He said the government was looking to adjust the cost, mentioning a possible “Territory rate” and “other people rate” and conversations were ongoing with the Australian Government and within National Cabinet as to what this could look like.

“At the moment we are probably charging slightly less than we should, we might be subsidising other states quarantine arrangements,” Mr Gunner said.

The Northern Territory’s border control measures and the cost associated with going into quarantine are meant to be a deterrent to those from hot spot areas, like Victoria or greater metropolitan Sydney, from travelling here.

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But Mr Gunner said word has got out that the NT is really safe and spending two weeks at the Howard Springs facility has now become a palatable option.

There will need to be a balance struck with cost increases Mr Gunner said, as there are people inside the Howard Springs facility, including Territorians returning home, who struggle to pay $2500 and the ultimate outcome remains deterring risky travellers.

The Chief Minister has recently spoken out about how residents from pandemic-ravaged southern states are “absolutely” fleeing to the NT as “coronavirus refugees”.

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