‘No silver bullet’: ScoMo stands firm

Amid a surge of Covid-19 cases and unprecedented pressure on PCR testing clinics around the country, rapid antigen tests are in short supply and those that are available are increasingly expensive.

After initially appealing for the tests to be subsidised, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese on Wednesday changed tack and is now calling on the Morrison government to make the tests free through Medicare.

But the Prime Minister is resisting pressure, announcing instead the kits would be subsidised in some instances.

Mr Albanese said Mr Morrison’s proposal of giving low-income earners, welfare recipients and pensioners cash payments to buy up to five rapid antigen tests was “ridiculous”, saying the kits should be free to all.

Mr Morrison said he had convened a meeting of national cabinet on Wednesday to find a way through the “current challenges”.

“They are a challenge, they are a problem (but) there’s no silver bullet,” he said.

“Making everything free is not a silver bullet. There are no silver bullets here.

“You’ve just got to work through the problem, work it through together and push through.”

When asked to confirm whether he had “completely” ruled out making RATs free for Australians as they are in other countries, Mr Morrison said Australia could not be compared to Singapore, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

“What we’re focused on is ensuring that the tests are there for those who need them for health reasons … Those tests are free and I encourage people to get that message out,” he said.

“The suggestion that tests are not free is untrue. The tests are free if you require one and are required to have one because you are a close contact or you’re symptomatic.

“The challenge around the issue of supply … We will overcome that challenge like we’ve overcome all the challenges through Covid.”

Mr Albanese earlier this week called for the tests to be subsidised for all, but with pharmacists and the Doherty Institute calling for the kits to be free, he changed his tune.

“Rapid antigen tests should be free and available. We are in a pandemic. Everyone needs access,” he said on Wednesday.

“We have been saying for some time that nobody should be denied a test because they can’t afford one. We have considered the options and it is clear that this is the simplest, most efficient, fairest and most responsible way to fix the mess that Scott Morrison has made of testing at this critical juncture of the pandemic.

“As always, we are prepared to work with the government to determine the best way to provide free tests through the Medicare system.”

Mr Albanese said Mr Morrison was responsible for the two biggest issues Australians faced with the rapid tests.

“It’s clear that he has absolutely no appreciation of the skyrocketing cost of these tests or the consequences of his failure to order enough of them quickly enough,” he said.

“We can’t have people at their most vulnerable and contagious being ripped off or going undiagnosed or travelling around cities, suburbs and towns searching in vain for tests they can’t find or afford.

“Price is one consideration, we also need the Prime Minister to fix the supply issues he is responsible for as well.”

The cost and availability of RATs is expected to be high on the agenda when national cabinet meets on Wednesday.

Originally published as Scott Morrison stands by rapid antigen test policy as Anthony Albanese makes big shift