Territorians will finally be able to enjoy a beer standing up and without a meal, with the NT’s pubs set to open unrestricted tomorrow for the first time since the COVID-19 crises hit, with massive areas of the NT also opening up with the lifting of biosecurity restriction zones.

Stage 3 of restrictions being lifted also includes local sport being played in front of crowds and the opening of cinemas, beauty therapy and tattoo stores.

Biosecurity zone restrictions will also be lifted tomorrow for the Tiwi Islands, West Arnhem, East Arnhem, West Daly, Roper Gulf, Victoria Daly, Barkly, Central Desert and MacDonnell regions.

Hospitality NT CEO Alex Bruce he expected a busy weekend for the Territory’s pubs and clubs.

“People don’t have to be seated, they don’t have to have a meal if all they want to do is have a drink and catch up with friends,” he told Mix 104.9.  

“They get to have a punt again and they get the full service offering of those hotels and clubs … which is facilitating more Territorians to be able to return to work.”

Mr Bruce said Territorians were itching to get back to normal and frustrations had boiled over from time to time during the last set of restrictions.  

“There were the odd flare ups … you’d get the odd tradie that knocked off, wants to blow off some stem and they would walk up to the bar and tell the bar staff what they think about the requirement of having to be seated and having to have a bowl of chips,” he said.  

“Unfortunately a lot of our businesses have opened up into a loss-making environment (under previous restrictions), they’re losing more money than if they stayed closed.

“Tomorrow cannot come soon enough.”  

Mr Bruce said he expected the vast majority of Mitchell Street to be open for tomorrow night.

All businesses previously restricted by the coronavirus pandemic must complete a COVID-19 safety plan checklist by June 5 to ensure they are compliant with the easing of restrictions.

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