Woolworths announces big change on RATs

Hundreds of thousands of new kits are now available in stores across the country and further stock is expected to arrive within weeks.

“Our team has been working hard to improve stock levels of rapid antigen tests in response to high community demand for them,” Woolworths commercial director for everyday needs James Hepworth said in a statement on Thursday.

“With larger orders coming into our distribution centres, we’re now able to send daily shipments to our stores.

“We currently have three times as much stock as during the recent peak in demand and will double that volume again by next week.”

RATs are available at the service desk and can also be ordered for pick-up or home delivery online.

The purchase limit has increased to two packs per customer and there is a regular review process.

At Woolworths, one and two unit packs cost $15 per test, while packs with more than two tests cost $10 per test.

RATs have been in short supply across Australia, but Scott Morrison last month pushed back against criticism that the government should have been stocking up on the kits back in August.

“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,” the Prime Minister told 2GB radio.

“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.”

Meanwhile, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission this week said it was investigating several potential Australian Consumer Law breaches regarding RATs.

The ACCC has received almost 3900 reports from consumers between December 25 and January 26, averaging about 121 reports per day.

Pharmacies have been the most complained-about sector, with 1309 complaints.

Others include petrol stations, with 781 complaints, and convenience stores, tobacconists and supermarkets, with 764 complaints.

However, pharmacy complaints have begun to drop off since mid-January, as many more complaints were received from smaller stores that would not usually sell such items.

More than 50 test suppliers, major retailers and pharmacy chains have now been asked by the ACCC to explain their costs, current pricing and stock availability.

The ACCC has also made referrals to the Australian Federal Police and the Therapeutic Goods Administration following tip-offs about alleged illegal reselling of RATs and sales not approved for home use in Australia.

Originally published as Woolworths announces big change on RATs availability