Daniel Andrews says mask mandates remain unchanged as calls grow to ease rule

As other states ditch masks to public transport, Daniel Andrews has responded to increasing pressure for Victoria to follow suit.

Victoria’s Health Minister says there will be no change to public transport mask mandates, despite a recent drop in Covid infections.

It comes as the state faces increasing pressure to scrap its mask mandate on public transport after two other states dropped the rule and a top infectious diseases expert labelled it long overdue.

NSW and South Australia on Monday became the latest jurisdictions to announce masks would no longer be required on transport, such as trains and buses.

It means Victoria, Queensland and Canberra are now the only states or territories where the requirement remains — two weeks after National Cabinet agreed to ditch the same rule on planes.

Victoria last week recorded 13,252 new infections – a drop of 17 per cent compared to the previous week — according to the latest health data.

Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas says there will be no change to public transport mask mandates. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas on Tuesday said it was pleasing to see a decline in Covid cases, but stopped short of making any announcement around ending mask mandates.

“I think it’s important that as health minister, I abide by the legislative framework that’s been set in place and I need to take advice on that, but national consistency is important,” Ms Thomas said,

“And I think also, very pleasingly, what is important is to see that decrease in Covid infections in our community (and) the uptake of antivirals, which, of course, are significantly reducing the severity of illness being experienced by those who contract Covid.”

When asked when the health minister last sought advice on mask mandates, Ms Thomas said she spoke with the public health team regularly.

Masks on public transport are still compulsory. Picture: Ian Currie

“We’ve only recently made changes to the pandemic orders — that was based on my seeking advice from the chief health officer in relation to implementation of decisions that were taken at national cabinet,” Ms Thomas said.

“Again, I speak with the public health team regularly. The public health team is still out in our communities, talking particularly to those most vulnerable community members … about the need to continue to stay vigilant and really that, at this point, means making sure they’re up to date with their vaccines.

“We’ll continue to do that and I look forward to receiving advice but I have no announcements to make today.”

Premier Daniel Andrews said the government always tried to be “as nationally consistent as possible” when it came to Covid rules.

“If there’s an announcement to be made, then we’ll do that. But for today, there’s been no decision,” Mr Andrews said on Tuesday.

“We always look at these matters and I do know there has been some shifts in other states — not every other state.

“I don’t have any announcements to make today about masks. But Victorians can rest assured we’re looking at those matters and all Covid matters.”

Maskless commuters sometimes outnumber those who are obeying the state’s pandemic orders and covering up. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Infectious diseases physician Peter Collignon said scrapping mask mandates on public transport was long overdue.

He called for national consistency surrounding mask rules.

“I think mandates have probably had their day by this stage because you’re hard pressed to show mandates really make a lot of difference,” Dr Collignon said.

“I think it’s quite appropriate for NSW and South Australia to do it and the reality is, when you have been on the train in NSW, hardly anybody’s wearing a mask anyway.”

Dr Collignon said the fact Victoria was still mandating masks on public transport seemed “inconsistent”.

“If you’re going to have mandates, I think you’ve got to give reasonable evidence that it works,” he said.

“I think it would be better if we had consistency around Australia.

“I’ve always had the view that masks give you some personal protection … people want to (wear them), but that’s different from fining people who don’t do it.”

The Andrews government is not expected to announce plans to scrap the mandate imminently but state leaders have consistently called for a nationally consistent approach to Covid restrictions.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the decision to stop the mask mandate on public transport was “commonsense”.

SA Labor Premier Peter Malinauskas said removing masks on public transport was “yet another step towards our post-pandemic future”.

Earlier this month, Premier Daniel Andrews said mask rules on public transport would remain for the foreseeable future despite the rule change on planes.

But opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said it was time for Victoria to move in line with other states.

“It should remain in healthcare settings,” she said.

“Where there is such noncompliance in trams, trains and buses and the government is not enforcing, it is time that we all moved on.”

Small Business Australia executive director Bill Lang said it was time to “throw off the shackles” of mandatory masks and that fines were rarely enforced.

“Anything the government can do to increase the confidence of Victorians to start going about their life in a normal way is good for every part of Victorian society,” he said.

“Especially given the non-compliance already happening on public transport in Victoria.”