AUSTRALIANS spend 90 per cent of their time indoors, making clean air a fundamental necessity, says Dr Matt Mason, infection prevention and control expert at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Responding to the Safer Air Project, Dr Mason emphasised the urgent need to address airborne pathogens and improve indoor air quality.
“With nearly half of Australians living with chronic health conditions, poorly ventilated indoor spaces pose significant risks,” Dr Mason said.
“Pathogens like SARSCoV-2 and influenza are predominantly transmitted in these environments, and enhancing air quality can protect vulnerable individuals and the broader community.”
The report advocates for recognising clean air as a basic human right, particularly for those with chronic conditions or invisible disabilities.
Recommendations include setting performance standards for indoor spaces in schools, healthcare facilities, workplaces, and residential care, highlighting the critical role of air quality in infection prevention and public health.
Dr Mason called for the Australian Centre for Disease Control to oversee air quality initiatives, reinforcing the idea that infection control extends into community-wide responsibility