This pandemic is a devilish problem for Governments of all political persuasions and it is inevitable that mistakes will happen as politicians grapple with the problems it throws up.
Everyone agrees it is time for political parties to work together. So rather than just criticising the Minister for Transport, I thought I would try a different tack and write to him suggesting a policy change.
My letter urged him to issue advice to all commuters in NSW to wear a facemask (or a face covering like a scarf) on public transport over the coming months and to investigate whether NSW should follow the lead of cities around the world and make face masks compulsory on public transport.
Even the World Health Organisation, which has been slow in issuing important guidance during this pandemic, changed their original advice and now suggest to Governments that the public be encouraged to wear face masks in settings where "individuals are unable to keep a physical distance of at least 1 metre (e.g. public transport)."
On June 15 the UK Government followed the French, German and Korean Government in making facial covering a requirement on public transport.
So why do it here? The answer is certainly not to inconvenience commuters or make life harder on public transport. It is because social distancing on public transport has routinely been breached despite the Government's best efforts to avoid it.
This is particularly the case in the morning and afternoon peak as thousands of workers attempt to battle for space next to thousands of school kids. The answer to this breach in social distancing is not to close down the public transport system, but instead issue some common sense guidance that could help.
I haven't heard back from the Minister yet, but I'm hoping that some bipartisan common-sense solutions can help our state navigate these difficult days.
