Claims eastern states steal state’s RAT tests should ‘outrage’ residents: Premier

Rapid antigen test kits are difficult to find but there’s one supply issue that has left locals outraged.

There are calls for an independent investigation into claims rapid antigen tests (RAT) bound for South Australia never made it past the border because other jurisdictions kept them for themselves.

Premier Steven Marshall said residents “have every right to be outraged” if the allegations were correct and said he would ask the ACCC to investigate further.

After being made aware of the allegations, he said he spoke with his counterparts in NSW and Victoria who denied the claims.

The Advertiser reported that millions of dollars worth of RAT kits purchased by SA pharmacists and retailers due to arrive into the state were instead procured by interstate governments at Sydney and Melbourne airports to be used for their own staff.

Calls for an independent review have been made after claims NSW and Victorian governments procured thousands of SA’s RAT kits. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

“Any interference in the supply of RATs for SA is completely and utterly unacceptable,” Mr Marshall told FIVEaa Breakfast.

“We contacted governments interstate. They certainly don’t accept that they have jumped the queue but we think there needs to be an independent investigation.

“I’ll be writing to the ACCC this morning. This is the right body if there has been an interference in a market and to see if it was even legal.

“We know there is a global shortage. Companies in South Australia have secured their supply … and we need those to come in.

“It’s not just about business. It’s also about those who want to visit families in aged care or other vulnerable settings … we have to do everything we can to make sure we have access here in SA.”

Premier Steven Marshall on Wednesday said residents should be “outraged” if the claims were true. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Michael Marschall

Prime Minister Scott Morrison slammed the “absurd” allegations that the Commonwealth redirected or impounded private supplies of the tests.

“None of this is true. I have no idea where that is coming from,” he said.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the allegations weren’t correct.

“There's one thing I’m certain of, I’m not here today to have an argument with Premier Marshall,” he said.

“Everybody's trying to source the same thing at the same time and it might be in the eye of the beholder whether something’s been requisitioned or we just got an order in before they did.”

Both NSW and Victorian premiers denied the claims, according to Premier Marshall. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar

Foodland chief executive Franklin dos Santos said his supermarkets had put in “substantial” purchase orders for RAT kits but their suppliers weren’t fulfilling them.

“As retailers, this is an industry issue and as a direct result we’re getting intermittent supply,” he said.

“It has a flow on effect with the shoppers and staff so we’re asking shoppers to please be patient until we can get actually get a consistent supply of stock in our stores.”

Drakes Supermarkets marketing manager Michael Connolly said daily purchase orders of stock weren't being supplied because the stock suddenly becomes unavailable.

“In short, supply has been difficult at best … We are having to pay premiums to get what little stock we receive,” he said.

“We have heard the unsubstantiated rumours in relation to the Government taking stock, (but) we are unable to confirm this outside of the difficulty in supply.”

South Australia recorded 3482 new Covid-19 cases and six deaths on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

It comes as the state recorded 3482 new Covid-19 cases and three deaths over the past 24 hours.

There are now about 32,000 active cases in SA.

Hospitalisations increased to 294 from 285, while 23 people are in intensive care and four are on ventilators.

More than 93.5 per cent of residents aged 12 and over have had at least one dose of a Covid vaccine, while almost 90 per cent have had their second jab.

Mr Marshall said SA also had a “very strong” booster rate with about 60 per cent of eligible residents who have had that shot.

More South Australians will be eligible for their booster after it was announced the time between the second dose and the booster reduced to three months instead of four.

South Australians can now get their booster shots just three months after their second dose. NewsWire / Sarah Marshall