Unfortunately, to date you have left this problem in the hands of the market. Now, with Omicron upon us, PCR testing sites are at risk of being overwhelmed, Australians are scrambling to find Rapid Antigen Tests and struggling to afford them.
This puts at grave risk public health and our country’s economic recovery.
Australia’s system of universal public health care, Medicare, is a source of national pride and an article of national faith. The previous decision of your Government to make PCR tests free has received broad public support as a critical public health measure.
It is essential for an effective response to the next stage of this pandemic and the highly contagious Omicron variant that Government does not abandon this approach for a “user pays†pandemic response.
