You call that a plan? NT sticks to own roadmap as rest of Australia slowly eases COVID-19 restrictions

AUSTRALIANS who do not live in the Northern Territory may have to wait until July to have a beer at the pub or go camping.

AUSTRALIANS who do not live in the Northern Territory may have to wait until July to have a beer at the pub or go camping.

As National Cabinet released the long-anticipated three-phase coronavirus lockdown easing plan, Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday urged leaders to be bold and lift restrictions while implementing “testing, tracing and trapping”.

MORE NT CORONAVIRUS NEWS

NT Government debt to be ‘accelerated’ by coronavirus, warn economists

‘F**k me that’s my fault’: NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner reveals the heavy mental toll of responding to the coronavirus pandemic

Manoli’s Greek Taverna goes into liquidation after COVID-19 pushes business over the cliff

“We’ve got to get out of the doona at some time and if not now, then when?” Mr Morrison said.

Queensland, with all the chutzpah it could muster, said pubs could reopen with restrictions in mid-June.

South Australians still have no idea when they can go to licensed pubs and bars while in Tasmania parents won’t unleash their kids at playgrounds until May 18.

The Northern Territory will stick to its own roadmap, mainly because everyone else is moving slower than us and it’s a LAUGH. Chief Minister Michael Gunner pictured here speaking at a press conference about beer. Picture: Che Chorley

Territorians can head to the pub anytime after noon on May 15 as Chief Minister Michael Gunner confirmed the NT was sticking to its own road map.

Bars, restaurants, gyms, beauticians (excluding facial services) and other businesses can reopen next Friday with some restrictions.

Nearly all coronavirus restrictions, including team sporting competitions, will be lifted in the NT on June 5.

Internal “biosecurity bubbles” will be reviewed June 18.

But ditching the national framework means there is still no date to when the Territory will open its borders.

Queenslanders could travel intrastate when they hit the third-stage of their rollback plan in July, the same month international students will be allowed back into SA.

Mr Gunner has refused to give “any firm commitment on opening the borders”, signalling they will be closed indefinitely as long as the threat of infection remans.

“We are sticking with our plan. It’s a Territory-first plan and we’re doing it on Territory time,” he said.

“We have every reason to be proud and confident, but not cocky or complacent.”

National cabinet will review the measures every three weeks. Aside from New Zealand, international borders will not be reopened in the near future and strict quarantine measures for people entering the country will remain in place.

Mr Morrison again urged Australians to download the COVIDSafe app, with current users now sitting at more than 5.3 million.