Policy that divided the Territory set to be lifted along with airport masks

The Territory was last to remove the workplace vaccine mandate but the first to remove compulsory masks at airports.

TRAVELLERS in the NT will be the first in the country to enter an airport without a mask from Friday and the last Aussies free from the public health emergency that has underpinned mandatory workplace vaccinations since September.

From 11.59pm Wednesday the two-year-old emergency declaration will be lifted, meaning for the first time in months Territorians unvaccinated against Covid will be able to hold down a job.

On Wednesday before boarding a flight to Canberra to attend national cabinet, Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said public servants who quit their jobs because they were unvaccinated would not automatically return to the job.

“It’s not going to be automatic that people have those positions back,” Ms Fyles said.

“They are welcome if they meet the criteria across the Northern Territory government to apply for a job. What I’m saying is even though the CHO direction will finish around Covid-19 vaccination it could well be a policy setting, particularly in frontline health roles, that you are vaccinated not just for Covid-19 but for other illnesses.

“We had this policy before Covid, that people were required to be vaccinated for influenza or measles for example and so that policy will still be in place.”

Some restrictions will remain in place despite the public health emergency including testing and reporting of Rapid Antigen Test results, seven-day isolation after a positive Covid test and face masks for high-risk settings including hospitals and health care centres, aged care and disability residential facilities, prisons and shelters.

Barkly MLA Steve Edgington posted on social media Tuesday there were no new Covid cases reported in the Barkly and 110 in the Territory.

“The absence of any reasons for continuing the public health emergency in the NT until 16 June rather than scrapping it straight away, just confirms and demonstrates Labor’s unjustified use and abuse of emergency powers,” he said.

“Territorians deserve better.”

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce championed the removal of the vaccination mandates and said workers previously unable to work in the sector can begin applying.

“They can come back to work and all workers with a smile and right attitude are more than welcome,” he said.

He also called on airlines to lift their mask mandate.

“There’s no one in Australia that can point to any evidence that says flying in Australia is inherently more risky than in continental United States where mandates on airlines and public transport are no longer enforced,” he said.

“Again we’re continuing to see at every level Australian governments holding on to tight.”

The NT government recently extended the chief health officer’s emergency powers for two years until the end of June 2024.

According to the Opposition, this has given the CHO “unfettered powers” to reintroduce mandates and lockdowns in the event of a resurgence in Covid case numbers.

Originally published as Policy that divided the Territory set to be lifted along with airport masks