Barnaby Joyce accuses Australians of ‘hoarding’ RATs, apologises after claiming people ‘aren’t dying’ from Covid

Barnaby Joyce has accused Aussies of “hoarding” rapid antigen tests in a trainwreck interview which also included a dubious claim about Covid.

Barnaby Joyce has accused Australians of “hoarding” rapid antigen tests in a trainwreck interview where he was also forced to apologise after claiming that “people aren’t dying of Covid.”

The Deputy Prime Minister had to admit that people were, in fact, dying from Covid, with the current death toll standing at over 3100 Australians.

Mr Joyce made the sensational claim about RATs on ABC Radio National this morning, telling host Patricia Karvelas that he suspected the shortage of tests was due to people who were buying too many, “like toilet paper”.

“I’m blaming the fact that we have a virus out there, that people have been buying not what they require but more than they need,’’ Mr Joyce said.

“A lot of the time it’s even corporations or businesses that are buying up more than they require, it’s part and parcel.

“It’s like saying you’re not producing enough toilet paper because people are swiping it off the shelf.

“Hoarding has been a factor and we’ve got to make sure we manage that.”

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

In the same interview, Mr Joyce claimed at one point that “people aren’t dying” from Covid-19 in Australia.

His remark followed a question on whether or not Australia can still argue “we are the envy of the world”.

“Well, people are not dying,’’ Mr Joyce said.

Host Patricia Karvelas then interjected: “People are dying. People are dying every day.”

Mr Joyce promptly admitted he should not have used those words.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry. Correction. Yes, you are correct, I shouldn’t have said that. But the number in which – the fatality rate is very low,’’ he said.

“Obviously, that is a tragic thing, losing a family member – for catching the flu. But the fatality rate of Omicron is remarkably low and Australia has done a remarkable job.”

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said it was appalling to suggest that people weren’t dying of Covid.

He said it was now “easier to catch Covid than find a RAT test.”

Rapid Antigen tests are in short supply. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Matray

“Whether you are a pharmacist or a medical centre, what they have been doing is getting phone call after phone call as people search desperately for a test,’’ he said.

“In so many communities around Australia, it is easier to catch Covid than it is to catch a RAT.”

Mr Albanese said he remained deeply concerned that pensioners and low income earners turning up to secure “free” RATs from chemists from today would miss out due to product shortages.

“They will rock up to their local chemist and there won’t be a rapid antigen test available,’’ he said.

“It’s quite extraordinary that on the day on which pensioners are eligible to receive a RAT, to hear Barnaby Joyce then blaming the Australian people for the unavailability of rapid antigen tests here in Australia.

“We all knew that once we opened up the increased number of infections, elimination tests would be an important part of the response to keep people safe, and the government simply didn’t do anything about it.”