Labor leader says small firms suffering from a ‘void of national leadership’ after Barnaby Joyce defends decision not to provide extra economic support
The state treasurer, Matt Kean, said he was “very disappointed” that the federal government had declined to pour in funding.
Albanese said Labor’s pledge to provide free rapid antigen tests would be subject to “limits based upon the health advice”. It also says it would instruct Labor’s promised $15bn National Reconstruction Fund “to make medical technology a top priority and work with the A Future Made in Australia Office to develop a national investment plan for healthcare essentials”.
“But the point here is, David, we need to manufacture rapid antigen tests here. One of the lessons of this pandemic is that we need to be more self-reliant.”