Territory Response Group sent to Chief Minister’s house after anti-vax protesters reveal his home address at Darwin rally

The Territory Response Group was sent to Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s house after protesters were filmed revealing his address and threatening to attack him. Watch the video coverage.

THE Territory Response Group (TRG) was sent to patrol Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s family home on Saturday night after anti-vaccination protesters shouted his home address at a Darwin CBD rally and threatened to attack him.

However, Mr Gunner says he will not back down on his government’s mandatory vaccination laws, describing the protesters as a “delusional minority”.

Police have confirmed they are investigating after a video was posted on Facebook showing protesters shouting Mr Gunner’s address and threatening to “go get him”.

In one video, a man can be seen saying: “Gunner the snake curls up at night at (address edited by NT News). Let’s go get the dog.”

Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s home address was streamed on social media. Picture Julianne Osborne

At other stages during the rally other protesters can be heard shouting out the address.

“NT Police are aware of the footage and are looking into the comments made,” a police spokesman said.

A Facebook spokeswoman said the social media company had “reviewed this content and removed it for violating our policies”.

Police estimate more than 1000 people attended the rally in the Darwin CBD on Saturday, while organisers say up to 3000 attended.

It came three days after Mr Gunner announced the NT government would make vaccination mandatory for any Northern Territory worker in contact with a vulnerable person. Under the special direction by the chief health officer, children and Aboriginal people are categorised as vulnerable, meaning most NT workers will be required to get the jab.

Workers have been given until November 12 to get their first vaccination and must be fully vaccinated by December 24. Those who refuse face fines of up to $5000.

Mr Gunner thanked Territorians who were choosing to get vaccinated.

“I will not back off one inch from doing whatever it takes to keep Territorians safe from Covid and keep our comeback strong because of this delusional minority,” he said.

Despite the clear threat made against Mr Gunner, protest organisers described Facebook’s decision to remove the video as “modern-day book burning”.

“We didn’t do anything major, illegal or concerning,” they said in a subsequent Facebook post.

“We just stood up to the government and that’s what gets people censored now days? (sic)”

But Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the protesters had crossed the line.

“It is appalling that the privacy of his family has potentially been threatened and in the strongest possible terms I say that is not fair,” she said.

“We, as members of parliament, both Liberal and Labor, don’t mind putting ourselves out there, we’re available when we’re in our offices and in the community … but providing that personal information is unacceptable.”

Last month it was revealed the NT government had paid $25,000 to upgrade security at Mr Gunner’s home, where he lives with his wife and 18-month-old son.

At the time, the Chief Minister said the upgrades were necessary because he had been stalked.

“Unfortunately in times like this in politics, there are fixated individuals,” he told parliament.

“I and my family have personally had some experience of what might otherwise be called stalking and our personal security has been at risk.”

Mr Gunner said the upgrades had been made after advice from the Territory Response Group, a special NT Police tactical unit.

But he said he did not like to talk about the issue because he did not want to attract copycat behaviour.

Originally published as Territory Response Group sent to Chief Minister’s house after anti-vax protesters reveal his home address at Darwin rally