Scott Morrison slams rapid antigen test claims, tells suppliers to ‘tell the truth’

Scott Morrison has slammed claims the government is seizing rapid antigen tests and urged suppliers to “tell the truth”.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has slammed false claims the government is seizing rapid antigen tests, calling them “completely untrue”.

Multiple suppliers of RATs have accused the federal government of seizing their orders for the hard-to-find tests.

After days of trying to put out spot fires over the claims, the Department of Health today confirmed it would be reporting false claims about the requisition of RATs to Australia’s consumer watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Mr Morrison mentioned that move during a media conference in Canberra this afternoon.

“You may be aware of some false claims regarding Commonwealth government requisitioning of rapid antigen tests. I want to stress that these are false claims,” Mr Morrison said.

“These claims are categorically untrue.

“Supplies of rapid antigen tests are not being redirected to the Commonwealth.

“If you’re being told by a supplier that you cannot get those rapid antigen tests because the Commonwealth government has redirected them, that is not true. Get them to tell you the truth.”

Asked whether Commonwealth orders for RATs were getting priority access, the Prime Minister said that was not the case.

“We’re not redirecting supplies to Commonwealth orders. And we have not put in place any arrangements to do that,” he said.

“We deal with the suppliers directly, as do the state and territory governments, and enter into commercial arrangements with them. We are not nationalising the means of production or distribution as a government. That is not what is taking place.”

Scott Morrison. Picture; Gary Ramage/NCA NewsWire

Earlier today, Health Minister Greg Hunt has put rapid antigen tests suppliers on notice that claims the government is seizing supplies were “a lie” and they could face investigation by the consumer watchdog for the false claims.

“These claims are categorically untrue. They have also been made in relation to at least one state government and will be a matter for the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission),’’ Mr Hunt said.

“Supplies of RAT kits are not being redirected to the Commonwealth and at no time has the department sought to place itself ahead of other commercial and retail entities.

“Where such claims have been made, the department has written to the relevant retailer to reassure them that is not the case and seek further detail or evidence of the claims made by suppliers.

“While we are aware there are supply constraints within the market, it is expected supply will normalise over the coming weeks.

“The Department of Health reaffirms that the Commonwealth Government has not requisitioned RAT supplies within and entering Australia. Any such claims are false, and where notified to the Department will be referred to the ACCC.”

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says claims the government is seizing RATs is “a lie”. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

Despite the claims, no suppliers have yet provided any firm evidence to date of government involvement, with one supplier who made the claim telling news.com.au that this was simply the story “circulating” in the industry.

One Sydney supplier emailed customers last week stating that a recall of the Orawell Rapid Antigen Test was because of a “Government Emergency Requisition”.

It later retracted the claim telling customers: “Further to our recent communications regarding our inability to fulfil your order for Rapid Antigen Tests in a timely manner we have received further clarification from out suppliers – the inability related to our suppliers overselling product they did not have available and was not the result of government intervention.

One message on an Adelaide supplier states: “Our supplier has since informed us that our scheduled delivery will no longer be delivered to us due to government action to seize RAT supply at the point of import for public health reasons”.

This week, a Victorian RAT supplier emailed customers claiming the government seized their stock for the national stockpile.

But in an interview with news.com.au, the company’s Chief Operating Officer Chief Operating conceded they have no firm evidence and it was simply what’s “circulating” in the industry.

Rapid Antigen Tests have been in high demand. Picture: Odd Andersen/AFP

“Many in the industry, we’re all confirming the same thing that our orders were pulled without any notice,’’ the COO said.

“After speaking to many in the industry, that’s what is circulating. What I can’t confirm is exactly where the stock is going.

“We paid millions of dollars upfront for expedited air freighted goods. And then they were pulled from us in December. With zero explanation. We got a new date in January. Again pulled from us.

“After speaking to several freight forwarders, they’ve confirmed that this stock is actually coming in daily.”

Demand has exploded in recent weeks for the rapid antigen tests with consumers placing millions of dollars of orders that are now delayed or failing to arrive.

Originally published as Scott Morrison slams rapid antigen test claims, tells suppliers to ‘tell the truth’