Free masks to be handed out on public transport as UniSA reintroduces mandate, but premier denies crackdown

Taxpayer-funded masks will be handed out on public transport to increase usage – but the premier has denied it’s a “crackdown”.

Premier Peter Malinauskas has confirmed free masks will be handed out on Adelaide’s public transport routes but denied authorities are imposing a mask mandate by stealth.

He said authorities were not “actively considering reintroducing a mass mandate”, with modelling appearing to show the state’s latest Covid wave had peaked.

He also denied the public transport compliance teams were embarking on a “crackdown” but instead was “proportional and appropriate response”.

He said SA Health and Transport Department teams would have masks and “make them available to people in the event they had forgotten one”.

“We‘re encouraging South Australians to think about whether or not they want to wear masks, given their own personal circumstance and their own personal choice,” he said.

“Whether it be in a supermarket... a big outdoor event... an educational setting, we’re providing that guidance and then other organisations will make their own determinations depending on their circumstances.”

Under state law, masks are mandatory in high-risk locations including on trains, buses or ride-share cars such as cabs.

Free masks are provided in schools and other facilities, such as residential aged care.

MPs heard last week that mask compliance was of particular concern on public transport in the southern suburbs.

SA ‘past its Covid peak’, top cop says

Speaking after an Emergency Management Council meeting on Tuesday morning, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said health authorities would look at ways to enforce face mask usage but brushed off suggestions of a wider mandate.

“There was some discussion about wearing masks and the position still stays the same that it is strongly recommended,” Stevens said.

SA Health authorities will be stationed at various public interchange locations to “encourage” travellers to wear masks but there will be no additional police presence, Stevens said.

“SA Health has a compliance team that will be out there reminding people of their obligations,” he said.

“ The role of (SA Police) in compliance is something that’s necessary when we have significant concerns regarding community spread and there’s a stronger emphasis on making sure people are doing the right thing.“

Mr Stevens said modelling showed SA’s Covid cases peaked on July 19, a “positive” sign the state was past the worst of the current wave.

“All of the indications are that we are currently past this current peak. We’re looking like case numbers are coming down and hopefully that translates to a reduction in hospitalisations,” he said.

David Lloyd, vice-chancellor of UniSA and head of the Committee for Adelaide. Picture: Tom Huntley.

The University of South Australia is reintroducing mask mandates in indoor spaces and recommending online learning in a bid to reduce the impact of the third Covid wave.

In a memo to colleagues on Monday, Vice-Chancellor David Lloyd said following correspondence from the chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier there was updated information for the higher education sector.

“Prof Spurrier’s recommendations additionally include mask wearing in shared spaces and moving to online meetings and teaching activities wherever possible,” Prof Lloyd said.

“These measures will be in place and under review until such time as SA case numbers significantly subside.

“It’s regrettable that we find ourselves having to re-adopt these precautions, but they are our best lines of defence to reduce the impact of the current variants.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas backed Prof Spurrier’s decision to recommend use of masks.

“I think it is entirely appropriate that the chief public health officer in South Australia provides guidance to significant organisations,” he said.

“Of course, there is a massive difference between the mask being mandated to be worn and encouraging people to wear masks or encouraging organisations to think about masks. So there‘s a massive distinction.”

Prof Spurrier, who last week left Covid isolation, on Friday told MPs that she had not advised the state government to impose wider mask mandates.

People pictured wearing masks while waiting for the tram in Victoria Square. Masks are mandatory on all public transport. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

SA Health and the Transport Department have recently stepped up efforts to boost compliance. But officials have “educated” public transport users they must legally wear masks rather than issuing fines for any breaches.

Health Minister Chris Picton thanked South Australians for taking up the call to increase mask usage in public spaces.

“I am encouraged to see the increased use of masks more broadly, especially in indoor or crowded places, to help reduce the rate of community transmission,” he said.

He said SA Health’s compliance team “takes an educational approach in enforcing the existing mandate”, which includes ongoing operations and a widespread social media campaign.

Latest influenza data shows 431 cases in the past week for a total of 10,372 cases so far this year including 984 cases which required hospital treatment.

Chief Public Health Officer, SA Health, Professor Nicola Spurrier during the hearing by the parliamentary oversight Committee over Covid-19 Directions at Parliament House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Opposition health spokesperson Ashton Hurn suggested the free mask move at last week’s Covid-19 Direction and Oversight Committee, saying it was important initiative.

“Providing free masks to support compliance on public transport is one action which could help ease the pressure on our health system,” she said.

“This initiative aims to keep passengers protected on our trains, trams and buses and would mean South Australians are more likely to get on board with wearing masks and are more likely to continue patronising public transport.

“It’s no secret many passengers aren’t wearing masks on public transport right now and providing them for free is a commonsense step the Labor Government should consider.”

The state’s Covid-19 chiefs will also receive new modelling likely showing the third Omicron wave has peaked, along with latest hospital pressures.

Latest data shows a third of eligible people have had their a fourth dose.