Rebecca Probyn

The chief minister of Australia's Northern Territory took aim at Ted Cruz this week over the Texas senator's criticism of the former's vaccine mandates.

The Northern Territory, a self-governing, sparsely populated region in the north of the Australian continent, recently imposed one of the strictest vaccine mandates in the world. The policy makes COVID-19 vaxes mandatory for a wide range of workers beyond just the public sector, from education, to retail, to banking, to the hospitality industry, and more. Those who do not comply will face hefty fines.

Ted Cruz took to social media to criticize that mandate last Wednesday, tweeting: 'I love the Aussies. Their history of rugged independence is legendary; I’ve always said Australia is the Texas of the Pacific. The Covid tyranny of their current government is disgraceful & sad. Individual liberty matters.'

Michael Gunner, chief minister of the Northern Territory, did not let Cruz's criticism slide.

'Nearly 70,000 Texans have tragically died from COVID. There have been zero deaths in the Territory,' Gunner replied to Cruz in a statement posted to Twitter on October 17. 'We have been in lock down for just eight days in 18 months. Our businesses and schools are all open. Did you know that? We don't need your lectures, thanks mate. You know nothing about us. And if you stand against a life-saving vaccine, then you sure as hell don't stand with Australia.'