Lack of organisation as MP smells a RAT

By Samantha Elley

As people of the Northern Rivers scramble to find and buy Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits, Lismore MP, Janelle Saffin has posted on social media that they should be free for everyone.
RATs are a faster way to test for Covid-19 than the traditional PCR test and while less accurate, can give the tester an idea if there is an antigen present in the comfort of their home, within 20 minutes.
If a positive result is received, the tester should then get a PCR test and isolate until results are received.
Workplaces, aged-care facilities and border crossings increasingly require people to take a RAT to prove they are not carrying the antigen.
As communities have opened up to the public, the rate of Covid-19 present in the community has increased, along with the demand for the RATs.
At a cost of $50+ for a kit of five tests and accusations of price gouging by some outlets, many of them are out of reach of those who need to be tested.
“It’s insane. This should have been planned for,” said Ms Saffin.
“We opened up on December 15 and Brad Hazzard said we’d go up to 25,000 cases.
“It’s not like this wasn’t expected.”
Ms Saffin has called out the government asking why reactions to the pandemic weren’t better planned when the state opened up.
“Where are the contractual arrangements for private provides to stay open?” she asked in relation to the many Covid testing places that have closed over the Christmas and New Year break.
“I don’t deny people having holidays but these are things that could have been planned.
“Pandemics require planning.”
The call for the RATS to be made free would alleviate some of financial pain people are experiencing just to see a loved one or go to work, according to Ms Saffin.
“PCR tests are free,” she said.
“(Free RAT kits) would be funded the same way PCR tests are funded.
“Governments find ways to fund things. This is a pandemic and a medical product.
“I am not asking for special treatment.”
Ms Saffin said one local small business owner has suggested the Dine and Discover vouchers could have a ‘Test and Discover if you are positive’ option where they could be used at chemists.
Others have commented on social media that they are happy to pay for the RATs but would just like them to be available.
“If people want to pay they can pay,” said Ms Saffin.
“The problem was, they weren’t ordered when we opened up.
“There should have been a transition plan.”