Leader of the Opposition, Lia Finocchiaro, says the Gunner Government needs to listen to the
serious concerns raised by the Territory branch of the Australian Nursing & Midwifery
Federation and revert to the AUSMAT-led gold standard of COVID testing at Howard Springs.
“Ever since the Chief Minister confirmed he was scrapping Rapid Antigen Testing when he
booted AUSMAT from Howard Springs, there have been numerous well-respected
epidemiologists who have expressed their confusion and concern over this decision.
“This morning, the NT nurses’ union told Mix104.9 that if the Health Minister doesn’t reverse
this decision and reinstate the Rapid Antigen Testing, its members will consider industrial
action.
“The last thing we want is medical staff at our international quarantine facility feeling unsafe
and unsupported,” said Ms Finocchiaro.
Shadow Minister for Health, Bill Yan, says the Gunner Government needs to pull its head out
of the sand and listen to the concerns of healthcare professionals working at Howard Springs.
“All we have seen from this Chief Minister is significant clinical change since the
announcement NT Health would take full control of the Howard Springs quarantine facility,
despite the promise he wouldn’t interfere with the gold standard.
“In a media conference today the Chief Minister said he’s always ‘trying to find better ways
to do things’. Why is Michael Gunner moving away from the gold standard established by
AUSMAT, which has so far kept the NT free of COVID community transmission?
“The Chief Minister still hasn’t been able to answer the simple question of why we can’t have
both tests. The only conclusion Territorians can make is that it’s to cut costs,” said Mr Yan.