The tests, which are now being counted in daily case numbers in most states, continue to be in short supply and many of those that are available are being sold at a premium. Some tests are now being distributed for free at selected testing centres, with more expected to come online when supply becomes available, but the government is under pressure to quickly source more. The Prime Minister is pushing back against criticism that the government should have been stocking up on the kits back in August, saying they had “no idea” how much Omicron would change the game. “We were buying them in August as a federal government to meet the requirements that we had in aged care. That’s what’s being used right now,” he told 2GB on Monday. “Back in August and even September we were dealing with Delta – and what we were focused on then was getting those vaccination rates up. “Omicron has changed absolutely everything. Most people now know someone, or indeed have had Covid. That wasn’t true six months ago“It’s been a very different virus … And the rapid antigen tests are in short supply around the world. “This is not something that is unique to Australia. It’s part of dealing with Omicron. Omicron has disrupted everything.”It comes as the Australian consumer watchdog released its initial findings into the price gouging of rapid antigen tests, finding that kits purchased wholesale for between $4 and $12 are being sold at $20-$30, and at up to $70. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Rod Sims said suppliers and retailers had been contacted about their price gouging. “The supply chain is often complex … Retailers operating under the same brand or chain may be setting prices and selling tests independently of other stores in the chain,” Mr Sims said. “This means the wholesale and resulting retail prices can vary differently. “Our inquiries so far confirm that a large volume of orders have been placed. However, given delays in the supply of tests into Australia, delays in distribution due to Covid illness or isolation requirements within workforces and at the retailer level, there is significant difficulty forecasting accurate supply.”Mr Sims said the “excessive pricing” or rapid antigen tests was of significant concern to the watchdog. “We realise demand and supply chain issues have been impacted since then, but our initial research suggests that a price of around $20 per test or more, however packaged, may be hard to justify based on the average wholesale costs and such retailers should explain why the price is so high,” Mr Sims said. “Any test costing more than $30, even with supply constraints, is almost certainly too expensive and would seem to be taking advantage of the current circumstances.”Among the collateral of Omicron’s disruption are supply chains, with supermarket shelves left bare across the country as workers in critical industries isolate with Covid-19. While the federal and state governments last week agreed to change the rules for close contacts in a number of industries, unions are concerned not enough is being done to protect workers and provide for Australia. Mr Morrison said his government was being told that the changes being made were “alleviating the situation”, and were helping to ensure Australia could “get through this difficult period”. But, Australian Council of Trade Unions president Michele O’Neil said the crisis was escalating, and the needs of working people “seems to have been ignored”. The ACTU has called an emergency meeting on Monday to further discuss the crisis, with Ms O’Neil acknowledging that while the change to close contact rules meant asymptomatic household contacts could work, too many key workers were presenting with symptoms and unable to get a test. “Our health system is being overwhelmed and there are serious problems in our supply chain,” Ms O’Neil told ABC Breakfast. “The issues that need to be resolved to keep workers safe at work include free and accessibility of RATs. Free access is really important, and there are other matters that need to be considered as well. “We’ve called on the Prime Minister to work with us as he did in 2020 to deal with this crisis. But those calls have fallen on deaf ears, so we need to step up here. “It’s our role as unions to make sure that every worker is safe at work, and these things need to be dealt with as a matter of urgency.”Ms O’Neil said the ACTU had written to the Prime Minister more than a week ago saying that free and accessible RATs were “urgently needed”, and among other demands that had been ignored. “We’ve had a complete radio silence from the Prime Minister, despite the fact that we’ve offered to work together to try and make sure that workers are safe and that we don’t have this virus spread further in workplaces, and of course to people’s families and the whole community.”
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