CLP Opposition accuses NT's Labor government of dismissing businesses' concerns about COVID-19 vaccine mandate

The Northern Territory opposition has accused the government of ignoring concerns among local businesses as the deadline looms for the Northern Territory's wide-ranging COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Key points: The Nothern Territory's wide-ranging COVID-19 vaccine mandate requires some workers to have had at least their first jab by November 13 Industry groups and the opposition say businesses need more support to implement the mandate However, Chief Minister Michael Gunner says "the rules are clear" From next Saturday, November 13, any Territory workers who interact with vulnerable people, work in areas at risk of an outbreak, or perform work deemed "critical" will be required to have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, under one of the broadest vaccine mandates in the country. On Wednesday, Ms Finocchiaro said the government was "heaping crushing pressure" on employers required to implement the mandate because it had failed to drive-up low vaccination rates in some remote communities. "Michael Gunner's words around protecting our most vulnerable are hollow and don't match the effort that he should have put in at the start of the vaccine rollout," Ms Finocchiaro said.