Federal Government denies rapid test seizure claim made by Qld minister

The Federal Health Department has denied using emergency powers to seize supplies of Rapid Antigen Tests after claims that supplies of the scarce product were stopped at the border.

No rapid antigen tests have been seized under emergency powers by the Federal Government, despite claims from some suppliers and a Queensland Government Minister.

The Health Department has written to industry groups to reassure them that no mandate had been issued to divert RAT supplies.

It follows Transport Minister Mark Bailey saying Queensland Rail had received an email from its supplier stating that 20,000 tests intended for them had been stopped at Sydney Airport and were no longer available.

Queensland’s Transport Minister made the RAT seizure claim. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Josh Woning

While the Federal Government has the ability to use emergency powers to requisition tests if required, this has not been enacted or used.

The Courier-Mail understands that some suppliers have ordered tests that are not approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, which can be stopped at the border.

A Federal Health Department spokesman said the Commonwealth had purchased more than 10 million RATs since August and had orders in for more than 70 million more with a variety of suppliers for delivery in January and February, while state and territories had orders for about 130 million RATs.

“No mandate has been issued by the Government to divert RAT supplies. The Department of Health is in regular contact with state and territory governments and is not aware of any other government seeking to requisition RAT,” she said.

“The quantity of RATs procured is expected to meet the foreseeable Commonwealth related need. The Department is monitoring the rapidly changing spread of Covid and will reassess it’s procurement priorities if there is a public health need.”

The TGA has now approved 42 point of care RATs and 21 self-test RATs and is continuing to evaluate applications from sponsors as applications are made.

A customer holds his (RAT) rapid antigen tests after purchasing them from a chemist amid low supplies following the surge in Covid cases across the country. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Mr Bailey earlier this week claimed the Commonwealth had taken 20,000 tests from Queensland Rail’s critical workforce at a time when supply chains were stretched to the limit.

It came after Queensland Rail received an email from its supplier which stated; “Unfortunately the sponsor of the product has decided that (even though these were fully paid for) they will now only be dealing with the Federal Government and these tests are no longer available. I understand this puts you in a very difficult position however there is nothing we can do.”

On Tues, Qld Rail received an email from the supplier which stated:
 
“The order you had in with us for 20,000 rapid antigen test kits was at the Sydney Airport.
 
Unfortunately the sponsor of the product has decided that (even though these were fully paid for)… 1/2

— Mark Bailey MP (@MarkBaileyMP) January 13, 2022

… they will now only be dealing with the Federal Government and these tests are no longer available.
 
I understand this puts you in a very difficult position however there is nothing we can do.” 2/2 #MorrisonGovernmentOrder

— Mark Bailey MP (@MarkBaileyMP) January 13, 2022

Mr Bailey slammed the Commonwealth, claiming this wasn’t the first time it had happened.

“For the Morrison-Joyce Government, every problem is someone else’s fault,” he said.

“Every crisis is someone else’s responsibility.

“Australians can’t believe a word they say.

“When they are called out on failures, they just flat out lie and spin.”

Originally published as Federal Government denies rapid test seizure claim made by Qld minister