Australia urged to fund free rapid Covid tests as stores sell out

Free or subsidised antigen tests would send a ‘market signal’ to global suppliers, businesses say

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The federal government should fund free or subsidised rapid antigen tests, business and union groups say, as pre-Christmas Covid testing queues grow and stores sell out of the at-home tests.

Free or at least cheaper tests would not only save businesses from shouldering the cost, it would send a “market signal” to suppliers that Australia was a willing customer and stop shortages.

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