EXPLAINED: Why Qld won’t budge on costly PCR test rule

The state’s acting CHO has revealed why the state won’t allow travellers to use rapid antigen tests instead of costly PCR tests when they enter Queensland, even after we reach the 80 per cent fully vaccinated benchmark.

The state’s acting chief health officer Peter Aitken has revealed why the state won’t allow travellers to use rapid antigen tests instead of costly PCR tests when they enter Queensland, ever after we reach the 80 per cent fully vaccinated benchmark.

The Queensland Government has been criticised for refusing to budge on its rule that travellers coming into Queensland after December 17 must not only be fully vaccinated but must also return a negative test taken within 72 hours prior to arriving in the state.

According to Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, who provide Covid-19 PCR tests for travel, the cost of a test starts at $145.

In comparison, a rapid antigen test costs between $7-$20, according to the federal government.

Speaking at a press conference at Morayfield on Sunday, Dr Aitken downplayed the widespread use of rapid antigen tests in the short term, saying they work best when there are high numbers of Covid in the community.

Queensland recorded no new Covid cases overnight and there are only four active infections in the state.

Queensland acting chief health officer Dr Peter Aitken. Picture: Jerad Williams

Dr Aitken said the advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee is that rapid antigen tests are “of benefit when there are high numbers of Covid in the community”.

“To put it roughly, rapid antigen tests are about 70 per cent as effective as PCR,” he said.

“Queensland currently has four active cases – we want to identify every case and not miss 30 per cent, so we will continue to use PCR tests at this stage.

“(With rapid antigen tests) you miss the early stages of the disease and the later stages of disease which means you don’t detect Covid in people until they are much further into disease.”

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said it would be “irresponsible” for the government to simply allow all travellers to go straight out into the community once the 80 per cent mark is reached.

In relation to the cost of PCR tests, Ms D’Ath said it was something the Morrison Government could “rectify”.

“I think it is something that the Morrison Government should consider – whether they should subsidise this test,” she said.

“This is a health response, the economic response should follow from that.”

But the federal government slammed Ms D’Ath’s comments as Queensland “seeking to walk away” from its responsibilities and trying to reduce its spending on Covid-19 measures.

According to a spokesman for federal health minister Greg Hunt, an agreement signed between all states and territories early in the pandemic outlines that Covid-19 testing for people without symptoms would be a shared responsibility.

The federal government pays for Medicare funded tests and also covers half the costs of state-based tests.

As per the agreement at national cabinet, COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic individuals (including to travel domestically within Australia) is a shared responsibility of the Australian Government and state and territory governments.

“The Commonwealth has spent over $1.87 billion on pathology testing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we would welcome Queensland announcing their investment into pathology,” he said.

“The National Partnership on COVID-19 Response, which all Government have signed, includes a 50 per cent funding contribution from the Australian Government towards COVID-19 testing.

“The Commonwealth funds 100% of Medicare funded tests and 50% of state-based tests. It is surprise that Queensland is seeking to walk away from their responsibilities and their own decision, reducing their own expenditure on Covid safety.”

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath with acting chief health officer Dr Peter Aitken. Picture: Jerad Williams

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli said he believes the state government is “passing the buck” when it comes to the cost of testing.

“Right now after everything Queenslanders have been through; sleeping in their cars, wondering where their next opportunity to pay the bills is going to come from – I think the state government should stop passing the buck and help get Queenslanders home,” he said.

Mr Crisafulli said “when I hear the deputy Premier say that’s not a lot of money … try telling that to a family of four who is living in their car that $600 doesn’t matter.”

“The state government can play a role after weeks of putting people through some of the most incredibly stressful times of their life – to engage in buck-passing does no one any good.”

“They are Queenslanders who are locked out of their own home – we can safely bring them back and still have a heart.”

Mr Crisafulli said it is the responsibility and duty of the State Government to “pay a small cost”.

“That test could be done by the state and paid for by the state,” he said.

“This, in my mind, is a cost of Queenslanders coming home by virtue of a decision of the state government so therefore that cost should be met by the state.”

Originally published as EXPLAINED: Why Qld won’t budge on costly PCR test rule