The NLC welcomes the advice from the Commonwealth Health Department that the Biosecurity Zones established across the NLC area and elsewhere in the Northern Territory will be extended for a further two weeks to 3 March 2022.
On 3 February 2022 the Commonwealth government, with the support of the NT government, decided to establish a series of Biosecurity Zones across the NLC area that would be in place until today, 17 February 2022.
At that time the NLC Chairman, Samuel Bush-Blanasi welcomed the move, saying that "These Biosecurity Zones will help slow the spread of COVID out bush and give us more time to get more people their second and third jabs and to get vaccinations for our kids 5 years old and up."
Speaking of the further extension of the Biosecurity Zones today, Mr Bush-Blanasi stressed the need for people and communities to work within the Chief Health Officer's guidelines and rules at all times in order to keep everyone as safe as possible.
"These are really tough times and we haven't seen the worst of COVID. We all really need to stay strong, stay safe and care for our families. The most important thing that everyone can do is to get vaccinated. Now that most adults have got their jabs - and if you haven't you should - the next step is to make sure our kids are vaccinated," said Mr Bush-Blanasi.
Mr Bush-Blanasi referred to the hard work that some traditional owner groups and Aboriginal service agencies have been doing to provide local isolation centres but stressed the need for these to operate within NT Health and CHO guidelines and rules.
"We support these efforts to keep people safe, particularly at Yirrkala, Borroloola, Jabiru, Wadeye, Yarralin and elsewhere. The NLC is standing by to provide any further assistance and support that we can and we call on the NT government, the National Indigenous Australians Agency and other organisations - including mining and energy companies - to provide further support for these local initiatives and work with the NLC to do so."
