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Restriction of entry to the Tiwi Islands

26 March 2020
COVID-19 Safety and Wellbeing
Update Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Tiwi Land Council and Executive Director of Township Leasing

A further Restriction of Entry has been issued and will come into effect from 7pm on 26 March 2020 and will remain in place until further notice for the remote Indigenous communities on the Tiwi Islands:

  • Wurrumiyanga (Nguiu) on Bathurst Island
  • Wurankuwu (Ranku) on Bathurst Island
  • Milikapiti (Snake Bay) on Melville Island
  • Pirlangimpi (Garden Point) on Melville Island

The Restriction of Entry has been issued by the Executive Director of Township Leasing, Ms Pennie Weedon, in response to the ongoing risk to public health currently posed by the potential spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus.

At the direction of the Tiwi Land Council, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Andrew Tipungwuti, has also declared the closure of all remaining land and seas within the Tiwi Aboriginal Land Trust in response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus threat.

The decision by the Executive Director of Township Leasing to restrict access to Wurrumiyanga, Wurankuwu, Milikapiti and Pirlangimpi has been requested by the Traditional Owners who are concerned about protecting their elders and others who are vulnerable due to health conditions, and is made with the agreement of the Tiwi Land Council and the Tiwi Aboriginal Land Trust.

This is also a determination under Subsection 70F(12) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 imposing temporary restrictions for the purpose of protecting public health.

The closure of all areas across Bathurst and Melville Islands by the Tiwi Land Council includes public access to homelands and the Tiwi College at Pickataramoor.

The Restriction of Entry commenced from 18 March 2020 and now includes the landing of all regular passenger transport (RPT) aircraft at airport terminals and passenger boats docking at ferry/pontoon facilities.

Exemptions only apply to personnel required to enter the community to deliver emergency and essential services. 

Tiwi families are strongly advised to restrict their travel outside of the Tiwi Islands during this time.

It is expected that all emergency and essential service agencies will ensure Commonwealth and Northern Territory public health advice is followed and that all agency personnel currently operating on the Tiwi Islands adhere to official protocols in order to protect the health of community members.