Canberra Airport: Andrew Barr responds to legal threat

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has responded to Canberra Airport’s bid to remove the mandatory mask rule for airport terminals.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has responded to calls from Canberra Airport to remove the mandatory masks rule for airport terminals, saying he’d prefer a national approach to the issue.

On Friday The Australian reported Canberra Airport CEO Stephen Byron gave the ACT Government an ultimatum; remove the mask mandate or face legal action.

Mr Byron told The Australian the mandate was “unnecessary”, discriminatory and in breach of human rights.

Canberra Airport.

“How can our industry return to normal when this is the message from governments and health officials?” Mr Byron said.

“We have critical staff shortages and we do not need this discrimination against our staff, or against our industry and the Australian public when they come into our terminals.”

However Mr Byron clarified he only objected to the mandate in airport terminals, not the mask mandate on aeroplanes.

On Monday Mr Barr responded to the ultimatum stating Canberra Airport was “within its rights” to bring the case forward but noted the ACT was following the same rules for airports as the rest of the country.

“I think it would be best for everyone to move together rather than it being jurisdiction by jurisdiction (after) legal action taken by airports,” he said.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has called for a national approach to mask mandates at airport terminals. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

“Why is Canberra Airport so different from every other airport in Australia?

“In practical reality you still need to wear a mask when you are on the plane.”

Mr Barr told reporters the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) treated airports differently due to the risk overseas and international travellers may pose.

“That’s the nature of airports - people are coming and going from every different part of the country and sometimes the world into one spot.

.@ABarrMLA responding to @MarkusMannheim ‘s question about Canberra Airport seeking legal action against the ACT Govt over airport mask mandate pic.twitter.com/hmdZbMWwiS

— Julia Kanapathippillai (@JuliaPillai) June 6, 2022

“I’ve made the observation that mask mandates are at their most effective when they do actually make a difference and they are logical.

“This is something im sure the AHPPC and all of the Chief Health Officers will be considering.

“The question is whether this is the right time to make that change.

“My preference would be a nationally consistent position.”

In response to the Chief Minister’s comments Mr Byron told the Canberra Star the push for a uniform national approach was a “joke”

“For politicians to rely on the crutch of uniformity is a joke,” he said.

“The quest for uniformity on a national basis has not occured in relation to anything to do with Covid-19 to date.

“It didn‘t occur when restrictions were imposed.”

Mr Byron told the Canberra Star the aviation industry was the “biggest looser” amid the “adhoc imposition” of Covid-19 restrictions during the earlier phase of the pandemic.

“For air travel to be the only part of the economy that has not come back to not having to wear a face mask is discrimination,” he said.