Scott Morrison admits he gets rapid antigen tests for free

Scott Morrison has been cornered by a question just days after telling Australia you can’t “just go around and make everything free”.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has revealed he’s never personally bought a rapid Covid test and gets taxpayer-funded tests at work for free or his wife to find them.

Just days after telling voters that Australia was at that stage of the pandemic where you can‘t “just go around and make everything free”, the PM has confirmed they are free for him at work and for other ministers.

Despite earning $550,000 a year, this puts the Prime Minister among the ranks of the unemployed in enjoying taxpayer-funded rapid antigen tests in 2022.

Mr Morrison revealed his access to free rapid tests — which have become known as RATs — when he was put on the spot during a press conference in Canberra over whether he had ever personally bought a Covid test.

“That I will have to check with Jen, because she, she‘s the one that goes and gets them for to those situations,’’ Mr Morrison said.

He revealed public servants are sent out to buy the tests which are distributed by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

For private use, the Prime Minister said his wife, Jen, had bought some tests at “the chemist or wherever she‘s gone”.

“When they’re being used for private use, then Jen popped around to the chemist or wherever she’s gone.

“I think, recently she went to one here in Canberra, just like everyone else driving around looking to find one. But when they are provided by the Department and I’d be no different to any other Minister or anyone in those circumstances.”

Scott Morrison has acknowledged he gets free antigen tests after telling Australians you can’t “just go around and make everything free”.

On December 22, the Prime Minister has previously claimed he personally sourced a rapid antigen test himself in Terrigal.

“I’ll give you an example, a real life example. I was in this situation last week, I had been at an event where I was informed that I had met someone who had Covid,’’ he said.

“I went, I got a Covid test from the local pharmacy. At Terrigal. Picked one up. Took the test. It was negative. I didn‘t need the government to tell me to do anything.”

That answer appears at odds with Mr Morrison‘s claim this week that the tests are sourced by the Department or by his wife.

News.com.au has confirmed that the test in Terrigal was not personally bought by Mr Morrison but by a member of his staff.

The Prime Minister's chauffeur-driven car pulled up at the chemist and Mr Morrison remained in the car while his staffer popped inside to buy him the test.

Earlier this week, the Prime Minister told Sunrise that making the tests free for everyone wouldn’t work.

Earlier this week, Mr Morrison told Sunrise that making the tests free for everyone wouldn‘t work.

“We’re at another stage of this pandemic now where we just can’t go round and make everything free,’’ he said.

“We have to live with this virus. This isn’t a medicine, it’s a test. And so there’s a difference between those two things.”

Originally published as Scott Morrison admits he gets rapid antigen tests for free