The Northern Territory opposition has accused the government of leaving Territorians in the dark on border settings after it announced a significant policy change via a statement late on Friday afternoon.
The statement, released about 4:30pm on Friday, revealed that border entry forms for people arriving in the NT had been scrapped.
The Chief Minister's office later confirmed all restrictions on people arriving in the NT had been dropped, meaning unvaccinated people can travel freely to the NT after being banned with limited exceptions last November.
Nobody from the government has yet fronted the media to explain the rationale behind the change, and opposition health spokesperson Bill Yan on Friday said the Country Liberal Party Opposition had only learned about it through the media.
"You would think that the Health Minister would reach out to me, the Shadow Health Minister, and say 'hey, we're making some policy changes and these are the reasons for it'," he said.
"I might be able to support those decisions if they were actually explained to me, but we, the opposition, find out at the same time as everybody else.
"But they choose to hide in their offices."
It followed a parliamentary week where the government sought to downplay opposition accusations that it had not been transparent with the health advice underpinning its coronavirus policies.
In a written response to the ABC's questions on Saturday, the government said the change was supported by high vaccination rates in the NT.
"Omicron is now widespread in the Northern Territory and we need to ensure health and police resources are directed to areas of greatest need in a proportionate manner," a spokesperson for Mr Gunner said.
"The COVID-19 risk from interstate arrivals no longer outweighs the COVID-19 risk in the Territory and this means it is no longer appropriate to direct significant resources monitoring arrivals.
"Friday's decision brings us into line with every mainland jurisdiction outside of WA."
The opposition has called on the government to release more information.
"I may understand why they've removed these checks and balances on our border entry, but this might not be the time when we're trying our best to protect vulnerable Territorians out in our communities," Mr Yan said.
He said the policy shift could undermine the Gunner government's vaccine mandates that apply to most Territorian workers.
Under the latest mandate, workers in high-risk workplaces like hospitals, residential aged care facilities, disability homes, correctional and detention facilities and shelters are required to get their booster shot by March 11, or within four weeks of becoming eligible.
Remaining workers in public-facing roles must get their booster shot by April 22.
"Does this mean unvaccinated visitors to the NT will have more freedoms than our vaccinated Territorians, who have to have the jab just to keep their jobs?" Mr Yan asked.
There have been more than 100 patients with COVID in hospitals across the NT for several weeks, and the Darwin and Palmerston public hospitals enacted a Code Yellow response (since lifted) to manage overcrowding on Wednesday.
A vaccine pass system barring unvaccinated people from entering a wide array of hospitality and entertainment venues remains in place, as does a vaccine mandate covering the vast majority of the local workforce.
