Binjari, Northern Territory
| Binjari Northern Territory | |
|---|---|
  Binjari | |
| Coordinates | 14°33′08.7″S 132°10′57.7″E / 14.552417°S 132.182694°E |
| Population | 190 (2016) |
| Postcode(s) | 0852 |
| Location | 13 km (8 mi) SW of Katherine |
| LGA(s) | Katherine Town Council |
| Territory electorate(s) | Katherine |
| Federal division(s) | Lingiari |
Binjari is a small community in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located about 13km southwest of Katherine. At the time of the 2016 census, it had a recorded population of 190.[1] The Binjari Community Government Council is also a former NT local government area.[2]
Coronavirus pandemic
[edit]Binjari attracted international attention after an outbreak of COVID-19 occurred in the community in 2021. Following the detection of 9 positive cases in the small community on 20 November,[3] the Northern Territory Government imposed a hard lockdown, requesting assistance from the Australian Defence Force with relocation and quarantine of infected persons and close contacts due to the vulnerability of the Indigenous population.[4]
The measures implemented were some of the toughest in Australia, certainly more so than experienced by any town in the Northern Territory. Residents were not allowed to leave their homes for any reason other than for medical emergencies or where required by law.[5] NT Police established checkpoints on the road leading in and out of the community, with Defence Personnel providing additional capacity to check vehicles.[6]
As a result of this response, local authorities personally received critical messages from social media users as far away as the United States, claiming that the Army was forcibly removing and vaccinating Aboriginal people against their will. In some cases, the relocation of infected residents was compared to genocide and the Stolen Generations.[7] Circulation of such misinformation complicated co-ordination of supply deliveries as well as the public health response.[8] Despite these claims, a number of Indigenous bodies were supportive of the Territory Government's actions, including the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance and Northern Land Council, who expressed confidence that the measures were appropriate to protect the vulnerable communities from the outbreak.[4] Representatives of the Defence Force stated their primary role was to assist with the delivery of food, supplies and providing transport for community members to attend medical appointments.[6]
On 3 December, an elder from the community became the first person to die of the disease in the Northern Territory.[9] The lockdown was lifted on 8 December[10] It was reported that of the estimated 300 people in the community at the start of the lockdown, close to 200 had been transported to the Howard Springs quarantine facility, 300 km (190 mi) away.[5]
Notes
[edit]- ^ "2016 Census QuickStats". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ^ Northern Territory. Dept. of Lands and Housing. Aboriginal Programs Branch (1992), Binjari land use stucture [sic] plan and development strategy, Dept. of Lands and Housing, retrieved 3 January 2020
- ^ Warren Barnsley; Aaron Bunch (21 November 2021). "NT communities of Binjari and Rockhole placed into hard lockdown over COVID cases". 7 News. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ a b "NT communities of Binjari and Rockhole in hard lockdown as Covid outbreak expected to worsen". Guardian Australia. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ a b Myles Houlbrook-Walk (12 December 2021). "After enduring the Northern Territory's harshest COVID-19 lockdown rules, the community of Binjari is grieving". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ a b "ADF Assist NT Police to Contain Covid Outbreak in Binjari Community". Australian Security Magazine. My Security Media. 29 November 2021.
- ^ Alicia Perera; Jacqueline Breen (24 November 2021). "Aboriginal health worker with COVID slams anti-vaxxers, defends NT coronavirus response". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ Myles Houlbrook-Walk (13 December 2021). "Online COVID-19 misinformation made fighting the outbreak in Binjari even harder, say local leaders". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ Jordan Perry (3 December 2021). "Binjari Elder becomes first person in NT to die from COVID-19". NITV News. Special Broadcasting Service.
- ^ Alicia Perera; Steve Vivian (8 December 2021). "Katherine, Binjari and Rockhole released from COVID lockout as NT records two new local cases". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.