Indigenous Australians in their villages are being removed by the Army and taken to quarantine areas as the Covid crisis in remote regions threatens to escalate out of control. Hundreds now live in some of the most restrictive lockdowns in the world.
Overcrowded conditions and low vaccine rates are causing a rise in Covid cases in Binjari, Rockhole and Rockhole communities within the Northern Territory.
In the current outbreak, there are 51 confirmed cases. The lockdown is unprecedented in Australia, and in the whole world. Townspeople can’t even shop for necessities or go on walks.
In an effort to prevent the spread of the disease within at-risk communities, the authorities also moved positive contacts and cases to the Howard Springs quarantine unit near Darwin.
An Aboriginal elder from Larrakia country named Julie Mills posted an impassioned video to Facebook saying she was unable to get in contact with people from the area and accused the government of taking people against their will.
Luke Ellis, an Indigenous man, is now quarantining at the facility. He stated that all came willingly, and they were being treated well, blasting any comparisons made to the Stolen generation.
Overcrowded housing and low vaccine rates are causing a spike in Covid cases in Binjari, Rockhole and Rockhole communities within the Northern Territory. (photo: a roadblock just outside Katherine on Tuesday).
In an effort to prevent the spread of the virus in at-risk areas, the authorities moved all positive cases (pictured) and close contact to the Howard Springs quarantine facility.
My grandmother is a stolen generation. On Wednesday morning, he posted a tweet comparing what he’s going through at camp to the disgusting experiences she had with her generation.
I’m comfortable in my room, with its air conditioner. I am enjoying Netflix while connected to free WiFi. For dinner, I had barra and garlic butter with broccolini.
“I am in constant contact with my loved ones.” Any comparison with stolen generation is like spitting at what these poor souls lived through during those times.
Up to now, Howard Springs has seen 38 persons transported from vulnerable Indigenous communities.
Residents who remain in remote areas are subject to the most severe lockdowns anywhere on the planet. They cannot leave their homes for any of the usual five reasons: exercise, shopping or healthcare.
People are allowed to leave Howard Springs for treatment, but only if they have to.
In the Darwin facility, hundreds are currently being quarantined (pictured), which includes people who have returned from overseas and at-risk Indigenous Australians.
Although Mr Ellis is fully vaccinated, he visited communities to promote the vaccination. He contracted Covid while on his visits to towns. (pictured: the Howard Springs center where he’s currently in quarantine).
Fully vaccinated Mr Ellis had visited the villages to promote the vaccination (pictured: Covid testing in Katherine on Tuesday).
He said that it is highly possible for more people to be moved to Howard Springs as close contacts or positive cases.
We have identified 38 Binjari connections, and that number will grow. They are now transferring those 38.
These measures will remain in effect for the minimum of 14 days.
So far there have been 51 positive cases of Covid within the current NT outbreak, with hundreds of close contacts coming largely from the remote Indigenous communities of Katherine, Binjari and Robinson River.
Four unvaccinated people are being treated at the moment in hospital.
Ellis is now fully vaccinated. He was visiting communities to help people seek out the vaccine. But Ellis contracted Covid in the process.
She was adamant about the notion of comparing quarantine patients to the Stolen Generation
Ellis stated that they are being well treated at Howard Springs with complimentary WiFi and Netflix.
He said the jab was never forced upon anyone and blamed misinformation for the distrust in the areas.
“People were hesitant due to misinformation. He stated that in my years working with vaccines, not one person had been “forced” into getting them.
“We understood that people wanted to be less involved even though it could lead to disaster.”
He stated that the increased number of cases reported in cities, which are mostly from homes with poor ventilation and over-crowded housing, has ‘changed the perceptions’ about the vaccine.
He said that people who have suffered in the past are likely to want the vaccine if they find out Covid is available in their area.
“We saw an increase of vax rates across the community in past lockdowns.”
Ms Mills claims that army members are taking Darwinians from Binjari or Rockhole against their will.
Julie Mills is an older member of the Larrakia tribe who claim that the army has taken people from Binjari to Rockhole “against their will”.
The current NT epidemic has seen 51 cases of positive Covid. Many close contact members have come largely from remote Indigenous communities like Katherine and Binjari.
Aboriginal residents are being removed from their communities to be taken to Howard Springs Quarantine Centre (pictured by Katherine health officials).
She made an emotional appeal on Facebook and said that she was afraid for the safety of others in the region.
‘We’re hearing nothing but bullsh*t from Michael Gunner and the government. “We’re all just scratching our heads and wondering about what’s happening,” she stated.
“I worry about my people and want to know their thoughts.”
She then ripped into the Chief Minister Mr Gunner, calling him a ‘lying, deceiving dog’ and accused him of hiding from the issue.
“Michael Gunner you coward. Where are you?” She said.
‘I hear stories about people being knocked down in the street by the army. Our native brothers and sister are suffering from trauma.
“We’re worried. We are scared. “We want answers. We need this to end.”
Ellis said however that that wasn’t the case and that most people who were present in the facility didn’t come from indigenous backgrounds. He also stated that all of them had made the decision to arrive.
Rockhole residents have shared images showing the ADF coming to their homes in Binjari, Rockhole and delivering ‘fresh foods’. They also said that they were abide by the government’s rules.
He wrote that if there had been soldiers holding down people and forcibly forcing jabs, we’d have seen photos or videos of them now.
“There are millions upon millions of videos of Indigenous peoples, good and bad. Imagine if no one could film the soldiers holding people down with guns.
‘Comparing it to genocide and sh*t is disgusting. Katherine is home to thousands of Indigenous residents. Howard Springs has only 200. If it’s a “genocide” then it’s a pretty sh*t planned one.’
Another Indigenous resident of the remote communities denied they were being poorly treated and said the ADF were doing ‘an excellent job’
According to a Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Service media release, the falsehoods about forced takings are “hurting people that they claim to love”.
Rockhole residents have shared images showing the ADF coming to their homes in Binjari, Rockhole. They said they were happy with the rules and that the food was fresh.
“We were being looked after. We had enough food and a gift card that we didn’t need to pay,” one resident wrote to Facebook.
“I know friends that are serving alongside the military and doing an outstanding job. No one has to do it for me.”
The WurliWurlinjang Health Service issued a media release on behalf of traditional owners of Binjari, Rockhole and Rockhole communities. It stated that ‘lies’ about forced takings were ‘hurting those they claim to love’.
The media’s untrue remarks about the situation of people are causing great pain. The group stated that support personnel and organizations are supporting Binjari’s and Rockhole.
We are locked down, because we are engaged in the greatest fight of all our lives. We are trying to stay safe.
“People who post on social media that people are mistreated should realize their comments can hurt the people they care about.”
Throughout the entire pandemic, Australia managed to prevent Covid epidemics from reaching Indigenous communities.
The presence of chronic health problems and sometimes poor living conditions could make the community more susceptible to the virus.