Barnaby Joyce has doubled down on his claim Australians are hoarding rapid tests after he was forced to apologise for a trainwreck interview. auspol
The Deputy Prime Minister on Sunday claimed it was just a “matter of fact” that people were buying more tests than they needed and that the stockpiling was contributing to supply issues.
State and territory leaders – along with Prime Minister Scott Morrison – have shifted away from using “gold standard” PCR testing to rapid antigen tests, which are quicker and can be done at home. Mr Joyce first made the hoarding accusation during a trainwreck interview with the ABC earlier in the week in which he also claimed Australians weren’t dying from Covid.
More than six million concession card holders across the country have access to 10 free RATs each month at participating pharmacies under a Morrison government scheme. Mr Joyce said the Morrison government was bringing in “millions of RATs now”, with 33 million kits due to arrive in February.
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