Rapid antigen tests will be free, but not for everyone… because that would mean the Government actually meeting the needs of Australians.
A National Cabinet meeting has agreed that concession card holders will be able to receive up to ten rapid antigen tests (RATs) every three months, starting next fortnight.
In addition, anyone who receives a positive RAT result will no longer be required to get a PCR test, and regular testing for truck drivers has been axed.
As usual, the government has no effective grasp on the situation and there are blatant issues surrounding these changes.
Daily case numbers rely on PCR results to record a total that is as accurate as possible. So with such a high percentage of positive cases only taking a RAT test, the number of cases accounted for will be wayyyyy off (and we’ll watch as Scomo and his team use the lower totals to make themselves look good).
To make things worse, to get a consolation payment from Centrelink or to receive leave from some jobs, a PCR result is required. Meaning in most cases, a PCR test will be legitimately required to cover living costs during the isolation period.
But the most obvious problem is that people simply cannot afford the rapidly increasing price of RATs and the government is doing absolutely nothing to counteract it.
I cannot think of a single good reason why rapid antigen tests shouldn't be free
— Jim Malo (@thejimmalo) December 19, 2021
Despite Scotty lecturing taxpayers about his self-indulgent economics and why he can’t, “just go around and make everything free”, he was cornered about revealing that he himself, has never paid for a RAT. He either takes taxpayer funded tests from work or sends his wife, Jenny out to find them.
Even with the catalogue of issues, and barely a crumb of good to justify them, the government are adamant that they will not be subsidising RATs for all Australians.
