A secret investigation by NT Police earlier this year resulted in former chief minister Michael Gunner dodging a $5,000 fine and instead being issued a warning for breaching the CHO’s directions, after a photo of him embracing an elderly woman without a mask was posted on social media, government documents show.
Territorians told to be cautious, not fearful of rising Omicron sub-variant cases
The NT Government has advised Territorians to be vigilant as Covid-19 cases driven by the BA4 and BA5 Omicron variants spiked with 353 cases recorded overnight, placing active cases at 1,977 of which 19 are in hospital. No patients, however, are in the ICU.
NT vaccine mandate ends at midnight as public ‘health emergency’ lifted
The NT’s two-year public health emergency declaration will lift from midnight tonight, meaning Territorians will be able to work without having a COVID-19 vaccination for the first time since last year.
NT Government to lift vaccine mandate, public health emergency to end
UPDATED: The Territory’s vaccine mandate for some workers will be lifted next week, when the government’s latest public health emergency officially ends, Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has announced, but it remains unclear what particular positions will be affected.
Legal action against vaccine mandate dead after Fyles Government ‘covers their backsides’ with legislation: UNTB
The Fyles Government’s last-minute push to retrospectively “validate” the Chief Health Officer’s vaccine mandate in Parliament last month has killed a highly-publicised lawsuit against the NT Government, the backers of the legal action have said.
NT Government moves to retrospectively ‘validate’ CHO’s vaccine mandate orders
The NT Government has rushed extraordinary amendments through Parliament Thursday night to retrospectively “validate” the Chief Health Officer’s vaccine mandate directions, raising suspicions the government had not properly enacted the orders the first time, which one legal expert said has “demolished the rule of law in the NT” and would most likely draw the attention of the Federal Government.
Vaccine pass scrapped for entertainment venues across the NT
Territorians will no longer have to show proof of vaccination in order to attend licenced venues across the NT in a surprise announcement by the Gunner Government.
Booster status proof demanded of public servants on same day SA announces return of some unvaxxed workers
NT public servants had until Wednesday to prove they had received their third COVID-19 vaccination, would get it, or had an exemption, despite the chief health officer’s direction allowing until April 22 for boosters, and came on the same day as South Australia announced unvaccinated teachers, public transport workers and taxi drivers could return to work.
Vaccine passport requirement removed for Parramatta – Cowboys game
The chief health officer has revoked the vaccine passport requirement for people going to sporting events as long as people are not drinking, which allows un-vaccinted people to go the Parramatta Eels versus North Queensland Cowboys game next month.
‘Retaining vaccination passport for pubs erratic, inconsistent and hypocritical’: Hospitality NT
The head of Hospitality NT has called on the Gunner Government to stop making hospitality staff the frontline ‘COVID-19 cops’, as the chief health officer continues to require checking of vaccine status certificates to get into pubs, bars, and cafes.
‘We could be in COVID-19 emergency for four years’: Chief Minister
Chief Minister Michael Gunner has said the Territory could be in a COVID-19 “emergency” for a further four years in a confusing explanation for the need for his government’s controversial legislation giving the chief health officer special powers for two years after the end of the health emergency declaration.
Controversial new powers for CHO introduced to Parliament
The Gunner Government will continue the unelected chief health officer’s extraordinary powers for the next two years without having to prove there is a public health emergency, as part of new legislation introduced in Parliament on Wednesday.