Time to scrap public transport mask mandate, Telegraph voters say

The public transport mask mandate has split NSW ministers as well as Telegraph readers, as a comfortable majority of readers seem miffed by a mask. See the poll results.

Mask mandates have split the NSW Government as well as Daily Telegraph readers as they vote yes to a maskless commute.

In a recent poll on whether masks should be worn on public transport, 64 per cent of readers supported the scrap.

About 36 per cent of respondents said they’d prefer to keep masks in place.

The divide is mirrored in the NSW Government as it emerges senior ministers are split over dumping the years-old pandemic mandates.

Compulsory masks on buses and trains should be scrapped, according to at least one government minister who has reportedly been ­lobbying behind closed doors for the change.

It is understood Transport Minister David Elliott told colleagues the ongoing mask requirements on public transport were inconsistent, given other enclosed spaces like restaurants don’t require them.

The Daily Telegraph understands he has previously lobbied bureaucrats for mask rules to be abolished, with a push for them to be removed before April’s fare-free travel period falling on deaf ears.

However, Mr Elliott on Tuesday said he’d be “taking advice from the Health Minister” on the rules.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and Health Minister Brad Hazzard have remained firm on masks staying in place on public transport.

Both declined to comment on whether masks would be a permanent fixture going forward on Tuesday, with Mr Hazzard’s office directing questions to a press conference last week in which he said “there’s no immediate ­urgency” about removing the mandates.

“In fact, I think for the moment it makes common sense while we’ve still got a pandemic,” he said last week.

In the crush of the daily commute at Town Hall Station in Sydney, some passengers wear masks while others do not – despite the threat of a fine. Picture: Richard Dobson

Australian National University’s infectious diseases expert Peter Collignon said while masks did provide “some” protection “the evidence in masks mandates is it doesn’t make a lot of difference”.

He said masks provided a 10 to 15 per cent reduction in transmission and questioned why rules were different in environments such as airports compared to restaurants.

Ray Kleyn from Windsor regularly travels on trains and always wears a mask, but believes the mandate is “inconsistent”. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Airports themselves (are) no different to shopping centres and restaurants,” Prof Collignon said.

Windsor resident Ray Kleyn has a medical condition which prevents him from driving, with trains and buses his main modes of transport.

He still wears a mask on transport but said there were “inconsistencies” with current rules.

“You get a train from the QVB and in the shopping centre you don’t have to wear a mask, but on the station or train you do – there’s inconsistencies there,” he said.

“I think people are fed up with it.”