Northern Territory businesses impacted by ongoing COVID-19 health restrictions after an outbreak at a central Australian mine have been offered extra support.

July 8, 2021

The Northern Territory government has offered businesses impacted by ongoing COVID-19 health restrictions after an outbreak at a central Australian mine extra financial support.

The lockdown in the Top End and Alice Springs following the Delta variant outbreak at Newmont’s Granites Mine in central Australia may have ended.

But many businesses, such as gyms, yoga studios and market stall holders, have been ordered to remain closed due to NT Health concerns they could spread the virus.

“We know that some territory small businesses have been hit harder than others – that’s why we’ve increased this support package,” Minister for Small Business Paul Kirby said on Thursday.

Businesses unable to open after the five-day lockdown ended on July 9 can apply for an extra Small Business Lockdown Payment worth $1000.

It comes on top of an initial NT government Business Lockdown Payment offer of $1000, which has already been granted to 2650 businesses.

Small businesses eligible for the extra payment must have a turnover above $75,000 and below $10 million and no more than 20 full-time staff.

Health restrictions ordered by NT Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie are scheduled to end on Friday at 1pm.

They include wearing a face mask in public, social distancing rules and a 10-person limit on the number of people permitted at private residences.

The virus outbreak at the Newmont mine, about 540km northwest of Alice Springs, started on June 26 and led to 18 people becoming infected across Australia.

There have been no new cases since Friday.