Emerald Chamber of Commerce President calls for GST to be scrapped from price of Rapid Antigen Test kits

Emerald’s Chamber of Commerce President has called for an overhaul of Rapid Antigen Test kits price, eliminating GST from the total. Read more here:

A Central Queensland Chamber of Commerce president has called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to act and alleviate financial pressure on rural families trying to obtain Covid-19 rapid antigen tests.

Under current laws, any purchase of a Covid-19 rapid antigen testing kit incurs the regular Government Standard Tax, however, the Emerald Chamber of Commerce believes that should not be the case.

The Chamber of Commerce president Victor Cominos was in total agreement with Chemist Warehouse director Mario Tascone who has called for GST to be removed on rapid antigen tests.

“They should be as affordable as possible,” Mr Cominos said.

Chemist Warehouse director Mario Tascone said his business was experiencing unprecedented demand for the testing kits and had been limiting them to two per customer.

“When you’ve got 25 million people that all want a rapid antigen test in the space of a week, that’s impossible,” Mr Tascone said.

Mr Tascone and Mr Cominos want the government to get rid of the GST on the product to make them more affordable.

“With the abolition of GST the cost will be reduced instantly,” he said.

“Surely the state governments will be in total agreement with such a proposal.

“The thought that the government is making 10 per cent off millions of millions of packets of sales of rapid antigen tests is absurd.”

The pair said vulnerable Australians who cannot afford rapid antigen tests should have free access to the product.

“Sadly, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has on several occasions ruled out making rapid antigen Covid tests free,” Mr Cominos said.

“Tax deductibility will not help many who need the test kits.”