South Australia’s Premier Steven Marshall, today spoke on this morning’s National Cabinet meeting.
Firstly confirming that the National Cabinet will continue in the future.
Public Transport
One of the items on the agenda covered the issue of public transport, with the advice from the AHPPC being that there is no requirement to wear masks.
While in some instances, transport systems are able provide face masks, it will not be compulsory, but individuals are welcome to wear masks should they want to.
However, Mr Marshall says that this does not take away from the responsibility of staying home if you are ill.
“We can’t be clearer, if you are sick you must stay home, wearing a mask does not make a difference,” he says.
Extra steps will also be taken:
- Trial a new AM and PM peak train timetable on the Gawler line that will provide more services across an extended peak period to increase capacity and give customers more options. If successful, we will extend these arrangements to other lines;
- Operate a shuttle bus to provide additional capacity from Mawson Lakes to CBD when increased patronage warrants more services;
- As customers return to bus services, monitor the busiest bus routes (like the O-Bahn), moving available capacity and shifting services around to better match the demand with the number and timing of services offered;
- Accelerate the introduction of a range of new Apps that provide customers with better real-time information about their public transport services to make it easier to find information;
- Mark the floors of trains, trams, buses and our busiest platforms with arrows for unidirectional flow where appropriate, as has been done in the supermarkets, to encourage customers to follow a single direction for boarding and alighting, so that they do not infringe on each other;
- Put additional marking on the platforms and waiting areas of our busiest stations and interchanges to reinforce the spacing needed to maintain recommended physical distances; and reinforce this with regular announcements;
- Update signage and posters across the network to provide more information to customers about the recommended habits and behaviours whilst using public transport, on advice of the CPHO; and publish and promote this through our digital channels;
- Accelerate conversion of the remainder of the diesel train fleet to 2×2 seating (currently 2×3) to provide for more aisle space for customers;
Provide well signposted hand sanitisation facilities at Adelaide Railway Station; - Create a taskforce with City of Adelaide on measures to encourage more cycling and walking within the CBD where possible and staggering travel in the CBD; and,
- Commence a “Travel Choices” communications program to encourage customers to consider a range of travel options, including active transport for shorter trips; car sharing; and retiming their travel on public transport services if they can; and to provide strong public messaging about the Plan.
Compassionate Grounds Travel Exemptions
Mr Marshall and Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has provided an update on yesterday’s meeting which tackled the issues surrounding exemption travel on compassionate grounds.
“We now have a robust and airtight system in place,” Mr Marshall says.
Mr Stevens says that while there was oversight in the transfer of the individual, but these were mitigated by the processes that were in place.
“Notwithstanding that there was a miscommunication in Health,” Mr Stevens also says that the process that is now in place is far more rigorous.
With extra staffing, further communication methods between the jurisdictions mean that the risks are being mitigated.
Travel exemptions on compassionate grounds are once again available.
Gyms and Buffet Dining
The Police Commissioner also confirmed that buffet dining is paused up until a time it is safe to do so.
Similarly with gyms and indoor fitness, the advice of health authorities states that these activities will raise to 20 persons in stage three.
More to come.
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