Coronavirus Australia: Twiggy Forrest secures 10 million COVID-19 test kits

Australia has just got a massive boost in its goal to being one of the first countries to recover after coronavirus. But it almost didn't happen.

Ten million coronavirus testing kits and extra pathology equipment are on their way to Australia in what has been called a “turning point” to enable the country to be one of the first to get back on its feet.

Mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation has forked out more than $3o0 million to bring the kits in from China.

However, Australia almost didn’t get the kits following a “sophisticated” attempt to divert them to other countries.

The new kits will allow the states to go well beyond the 500,000 tests that have already taken place since the pandemic began.

The Government has said ramping up rates of testing is one of three key planks Australia will need to put in place to loosen COVID-19 restrictions.

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Speaking today, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the testing kits could help avoid a second wave of infections.

The Minderoo Foundation paid $320 million to bring the kits to Australia, an amount which will later be repaid by the Government.

Mining billionaire Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation has paid $320 million for the kits that will be repaid by the Government. Picture: William West/AFP

Mr Forrest said he was able to secure the kits due to his Fortescue Metals mining operation’s close relationship with China.

China is one of Australia’s biggest buyers of minerals.

“We set aside $320 million to assist Australia any way we could,” Mr Forrest said.

“This was a business to business relationship, where capital was acquired immediately, deployed immediately and over time will be repaid by the Commonwealth.”

The Minderoo Foundation worked with the individual states and territories and the Federal Government on the enormous logistic operations which involved 10 plane loads.

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The tests will be supplied by Shenzhen-based Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI), a genome sequencing firm. It has said it is conducting up to 10,000 tests in Wuahn where the virus first came to light.

“I would like to thank BGI for withstanding the shocks and withstanding the threats to our supply chains which occurred and we can now declare victory and say all machines are here and reagents are here or on their way.

“This has the possibility to be a turning point. To eradicate the virus, to show it up and to free the states’ populations and let’s get back to work,” he said.

A BGI laboratory technician at a coronavirus laboratory in Wuhan in China. Picture: STR/AFP

‘SOPHISTICATED COERCION’ TO DIVERT KITS

The kits almost didn’t make it to Australia at all, Mr Forrest said, after rival nations offered more money to get their hands on them.

“The Minderoo Foundation and BGI received sophisticated coercion to interrupt the relationship.

“We also had offers from other countries much higher than I had agreed. I’m talking much, much higher, and BGI kept to their word and resisted that very clear temptation to make a much bigger profit and maintain the integrity of my relationship, and I am very grateful for that.”

Australia has so far conducted 530,000 COVID-19 tests which have uncovered more than 6700 infections that has led to the deaths of 90 people.

Minister Hunt said the kits would be important in achieving Australia’s aim of vastly increasing the number of people tested.

The Government also wants to enable strong tracing of people with the COVIDsafe app and to be able to jump on new cases when they emerge.

“We didn’t wait for the advice of others and as a result of that we were able to save lives and protect lives and the result in Australia is the envy of the world.

“But because of today we can now go even further and be one of the first countries to emerge from this.”

Mr Hunt said the test were a “critical part” of planning for and aiming to avert a later spike in infections.

“We have worked to put capabilities in place … to protect against a second wave.”

Minister Health Greg Hunt taking at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Melbourne today where it was announced Australia has secured an extra 10 million COVID-19 test kits and pathology equipment. Picture: James Ross/AAP

There has been a sudden frosty turn in diplomatic relations between Australian and China with Beijing angry at Canberra’s support for an international inquiry into how the coronavirus pandemic began.

Chinese Ambassador to Australia Cheng Jingye said Chinese people might stop buying Australian wine, visiting the country or sending their children to Australian universities in return.

However, things were far more cordial between the two nations at the announcement of the kits.

China’s consul general to Melbourne Long Zhou said the project was “testimony of the friendship and the co-operation” between the two nations.

“China very much appreciates and is thankful to the compassion, support and sympathy of the Australian people towards the Chinese people in our fight against the virus and vice versa. We are also doing everything possible to help Australia.”