As Territory Controller, Commissioner Chalker Business and Operati onal Support Services, led the agency and broader Northern Territory Informati on, Communicati ons and Technology, Government’s response to the COVID-19 Media and Corporate Communicati ons and the pandemic. Risk Management and Internal Audit Division. On 9 March 2020, a COVID-19 Planning Team The taskforce also worked in collaborati on with was established in the Territory Intelligence the Department of Health and SecureNT to Coordinati on Centre in response to the pandemic. strengthen measures to help limit the spread This included the response to the Australians of COVID-19 to protect our workforce and the evacuated from Wuhan and the Diamond wider community, as well as with our Princess Cruise Ship in Japan. respecti ve unions. Twelve border control points (BCP) were The borders conti nue to experience a steady established across hard border locati ons. The fl ow of traffi c with the three main road entry check points are staff ed 24/7 with offi cers from points (Victoria Highway, Stuart Highway and the Northern Territory Police Force (NTPF), Barkly Highway) averaging 250 people per Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian 24 hour period. Defence Force (ADF) personnel. Locati ons Northern Territory Police Air Wing provided a vital included Victoria Highway (NT/WA), Bunti ne service in supporti ng the BCP with rotati on of Highway (NT/WA), Tanami/Granites Mine (NT/ staff and provisions into some of the very remote WA), Kintore (NT/WA) and Docker River (NT/ BCP locati ons, including the Bunti ne Highway and WA). Savannah Way. The rapidly-changing environment created by Capability was enhanced with the purchase of the COVID-19 virus made it necessary to re- eight ANPR trailers to further support border align the police structure to create agility and control processes at remote border crossings. responsiveness to the emerging threat posed by the virus to the community. Provision of NTPF staffi ng to support the ongoing COVID-19 response has impacted elements of In response to the pandemic, Taskforce normal policing operati ons, including temporary Protect was established to oversee and cessati on of the School Based Constable implement business conti nuity plans. program, closure of the Darwin Watch House, Taskforce Protect reviewed leave implementati on of 12 hour rosters and reducti on rosters, identi fi ed working from home in staff on recreati onal leave. opportuniti es, ensured PPE stock was maintained for the safety of our The wellbeing of all Territorians, our members workforce and reviewed geographical and volunteers remains the highest priority, and transfers of members to ensure the relief of our remote personnel is at the heart adequate staffi ng levels were of that focus. Many measures implemented maintained. through our agency-wide pandemic plan were needless to say tough, but were required in such Taskforce Protect focussed on unprecedented ti mes. maintaining consistency across all logisti cal decisions and internal communicati ons for the agency’s COVID-19 response. Membership of the taskforce included staff from the People Branch, Workforce Development, NTPFES - ANNUAL REPORT 2019-20 33.