[Insufficient Details for Upcoming Deal] 10 Free Rapid Antigen Tests for Pensioners & Low Income Health Card Holders @Pharmacies

havebeerbelywillsumo on 06/01/2022 - 01:34
Last edited 06/01/2022 - 09:30 by 2 other users

Moved to Forum: Original Link

This is simply a public service announcement for pensioners (various types eligible)

Just announced today 06-01-2022, this afternoon, so details a bit sketchy………(and I know kits are virtually impossible to get over the counter at the moment - says government thinks they can solve that over a 2 week timeframe). Appears you need to visit a pharmacy with your pension card (various pension style schemes are eligible, you'll need to check), pharmacy takes those details and gives you a kit. Details go off to government who reimburse pharmacy.

Total number appears to be limited to 2 tranches of 5 tests (max 5 tests per month).

This would be a godsend for me as I can use it PLUS still-at-home kids could use them

National Cabinet agreed that up to 10 Rapid Antigen Tests over three months (a maximum of 5 in a month) will be made available free through pharmacies to people holding the following cards:

Pension Concession Card
Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card
Department of Veterans' Affairs Gold, White or Orange Card
Health Care Card
Low Income Health Card

Mod: Deal Posted Moved to Forums [Insufficient Details for Upcoming Deal] - As the start date is undefined ("available in the next 2 weeks"), the deal is unpublished due to our Insufficient Details for Upcoming Deals. It can be posted again in the future once details and the start date is finalised. We have moved this post to the forums to retain discussion, rather than unpublishing it as we usually would.

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Comments

  • duodeta on 06/01/2022 - 01:56
    +149

    ScoMo GO AWAY!

      • ChickenAdobo on 06/01/2022 - 02:34
        +95

        He has months of lockdown to prepare for this. Could have preorder an overstock of RAT test so there is no shortage anywhere in Australia. Do a mass recruitment program for pcr testing. Imagine waiting 6 hours in line all hot, hungry and thirsty and you are only half way? Healthcare is not the PM forte.

        • cute as duck on 06/01/2022 - 02:50
          +25

          My friend today after 4 hours was turned away after being already queued up.

          • mj7312 on 06/01/2022 - 06:43
            +25

            @CJ31: Relying on RATS at all is a desperation move resulting from the extremely poor planning of the Federal government though. They should not totally be replacing PCR testing but here we are. ScumMo was also informed in September about the need for these antigen tests, but he did nothing except clue in some close cronies to the business opportunity; the same ones who are price gouging everyone now,

            I'll believe there is stock for these tests for pensioners when I see them. But it should not have come to all of this and that is the Federal government's fault.

            • Bronnie on 06/01/2022 - 16:15

              @mj7312: You forget it was the states that didn't think the RATs were worth the effort….till their PCR lines got too long, at least.

          • mj7312 on 06/01/2022 - 07:04
            +17

            @CJ31: Yes, I'm aware of the article. Nothing in it changes things whatsoever. RATS is the Fed government "plan" they foisted on everyone with a total lack of competence, without ensuring public supply for it, while they suddenly removed almost everyone's ability to get pcr and you wonder why states were left in the lurch. Feds had months to do it and it's their stupid plan they failed at. Insider trading for their mates was more important. And yes, RATS are not accurate enough as the sole test.

            Meanwhile in the UK of all places, tests are free for everyone and there's a system where you scan the barcode, the test result is counted in cases, health information recorded, tracing done and your GP is alerted, all automatically. Here, we've been totally abandoned, and now we have one of their low detail promises they never deliver on.

            • tryagain on 06/01/2022 - 08:28
              -6

              @mj7312: Health is a State Government responsibility, your anger in this instance is best directed at the Premiers, unless there are documented instances of the states of the states requesting additional help?

              • buckster on 06/01/2022 - 08:34
                +6

                @tryagain: What's the point of a federal government if it never does anything?

                  • AdModnar on 07/01/2022 - 00:27
                    +2

                    @tryagain: @tryagain, I suggest you read the whole page there. This very site you linked to directly contradicts you.
                    Words to the effect of "Health is a concurrent responsibility, shared by multiple levels of Government"
                    Hospitals, which States administer and the only Health thing listed in the table with examples of what each level does, are not the only type of health care. GPs and pharmacy (which are what this is about) are with the Federal Govt.
                    So, try again.

                    • tryagain on 07/01/2022 - 01:02
                      -2

                      @AdModnar: No, this is about testing not pharmacy and is a State Government responsibility for procurement (except in a few instances like aged care). The PM has publicly stated this.

                      • AdModnar on 07/01/2022 - 12:16
                        +1

                        @tryagain: @tryagain just because a Prime Minister says something in public doesn't automatically make it so. (refer things our current PM has said about weekends and electric vehicles for just one example)
                        Back to health care though, states don't run primary care, the Commonwealth does. This is clearly primary care related.
                        Commonwealth is also clearly responsible for Australian borders, and so should have handled the quarantine process. States should not have had to do that, but it wasn't happening, so they did it.

                        • tryagain on 07/01/2022 - 18:00

                          @AdModnar:

                          just because a Prime Minister says something in public doesn't automatically make it so.

                          True, but when none of the states, or anyone else calls it out as being wrong, it's almost certainly right.

                          States should not have had to do that, but it wasn't happening, so they did it.

                          Umm, no, it was decided at the national cabinet meeting that the states would run it even though it would typically fall under the federal government responsibility due to the states primary role in delivering healthcare.

                          https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20458088-730-stateme…

                          On the whole you seem to be conflating running something with funding it.

                          • AdModnar on 13/01/2022 - 21:08

                            @tryagain: @tryagain, what does the Federal Health Minister do in your universe then? Why are they in Cabinet if their job could be done by Finance Minister or Treasurer? Where are the state govt policies about GPs or pharmacy (for any state)?

                • 1st-Amendment on 06/01/2022 - 09:13
                  -2

                  @buckster:

                  What's the point of a federal government if it never does anything?

                  So you don't understand how your government works, and this is someone else's fault? Let me guess you vote Labor lol…

                  • souths123 on 06/01/2022 - 09:30

                    @1st-Amendment: and you must vote some crap party, just going by the name lolol…maybe you are the one that doesn't understand how govt works?

                  • tryagain on 06/01/2022 - 11:54
                    +2

                    @1st-Amendment: They amount of people here who don't have even a basic idea of what the 3 levels of government are responsible for is pretty bad, the willingness to show their ignorance by championing demonstrably incorrect "opinions" is even worse.

              • Bronnie on 06/01/2022 - 16:12

                @tryagain: Don't understand why you got downvotes. What you said was correct.
                Edit: Seems you are now getting more upvotes too
                .

                • tryagain on 07/01/2022 - 01:03

                  @Bronnie: People don't like it when the truth messes with their preconceived narrative.

        • funnysht on 06/01/2022 - 08:26
          +1

          wach the cricket whilst waiting in line

        • 1st-Amendment on 06/01/2022 - 09:11
          +1

          Healthcare is not the PM forte.

          And clearly how the government works is not yours. Healthcare is mostly the jurisdiction of the states. The Feds dole out funding for things like Medicare etc and guide national policy, but ultimately it's the states that do the work. If you want your state to do more, contact your state health minister. Or bitch about the PM in here and see how that works out instead…

          • SBOB on 06/01/2022 - 09:16
            +1

            @1st-Amendment:

            and guide national policy,

            for which they have been extremely on the ball and well organised for the covid response planning?

      • jimbler on 06/01/2022 - 02:56
        +31

        The Titanic was also heading in the right direction.

        • Charlie Sierra on 06/01/2022 - 06:51
          +17

          Must remember to finish watching that movie, I think Jack and Rose are going to be just fine.

          • vinnycol on 06/01/2022 - 08:42
            +2

            @Charlie Sierra: That's the Liberal Government edit as opposed to the cinematic one..

            • Charlie Sierra on 06/01/2022 - 08:42
              +7

              @vinnycol: "Don't let go Jack"

              "I don't hold hands, mate"

            • Bronnie on 06/01/2022 - 16:52

              @vinnycol: It's amazing how many people believe that the Australian prime minister has the same power as the NZ prime minister does, to make health decisions affecting the entire nation. As you have seen, it is all in the control of the individual states. It would be so much better to do away with the state governments altogether

        • tnarg on 06/01/2022 - 08:52
          +1

          Actually they weren't, took a short cut so they could beat the record - but we could apply the analogy in a similar sense

      • morse on 06/01/2022 - 04:18
        +39

        Nope. Not the right direction. The right direction would be to buy a stack and distribute them to all Australians free of charge through GPs, pharmacies, community and public health organisations. Not some complex scheme where the person has to meet eligibility (eg having a healthcare card that requires a complex Centrelink application) and the pharmacy has to apply to the government for reimbursement. Just running the scheme will cost $$$. And I have no doubt pharmacies will ‘run out’ of the ones included in the scheme, the same way at flu shot time there’s often a shortage or delay accessing the ‘free’ ones provided to children, older people etc, but you can buy one.

        Leaders can change their mind when they’ve made a mistake. If ever there was a time to do that it would be now.

        • vinnycol on 06/01/2022 - 08:58
          +1

          Problem is, changing their minds is essentially saying they got it wrong which pretty much admits liability. IMHO this whole debacle has been handled in an incompetent fashion from the outset from a federal and state level all in the name of cash, with the exception of Mark McGowan of course…
          If a CEO in the private sector got things this wrong, they would be sacked….

          A complete and utter monumental stuff up.

          NZ has it right…

          • 1st-Amendment on 06/01/2022 - 09:11
            -4

            @vinnycol:

            NZ has it right…

            You should go live there then. Why don't you do that?

            • vinnycol on 06/01/2022 - 09:16
              +1

              @1st-Amendment: Coz they wouldn't let me in if i wanted to… Catch 22…

            • peeppeep on 06/01/2022 - 09:24
              +1

              @1st-Amendment: This is such a shitty argument for a grown adult human being! Just pointing out that some other country got it right does not imply you lose the right to live in your own country!

              • 1st-Amendment on 06/01/2022 - 09:34

                @peeppeep:

                This is such a shitty argument for a grown adult human being! Just pointing out that some other country got it right does not imply you lose the right to live in your own country!

                No idea what that gibberish was supposed to mean, all I asked was what do you think NZ got right but so far no-one can give a straight answer to that very simple question…

              • vinnycol on 06/01/2022 - 09:47
                +1

                @peeppeep: Did I at any time imply I wanted to live anywhere other than Oz and have forgone my right to do so?

                My point is that out current Government could and should have done things differently and how another country and a Labour governed Oz state have handled this…. Are they in our predicament???

                From your comments I assume you are satisfied with the way our leaders have handled this and kudos to you…. We are all entitled to our own opinions otherwise there would be no point in forums like this…

                Have a nice day…

                • peeppeep on 06/01/2022 - 10:15
                  +1

                  @vinnycol: Lol that's the problem with tolls they create such confusion! I was actually supporting your argument that NZ has done a better job than us. I agree with all your points, but this statement 'why don't you go live in country X' is a standard troll trope across the world and I am sick and tired of hearing it

                  • vinnycol on 06/01/2022 - 10:22

                    @peeppeep: Cheers mate, just noticed. Enjoy!!

                    • RockyRaccoon on 06/01/2022 - 11:19

                      @vinnycol: Going back to the point you made. You said NZ has got it right!

                      It what way do you mean?

                      Rats are free for travellers at select pharmacies for those wanting to leave Auckland. They must be taken by the pharmacy not the individual. You cant have symptoms of covid to get one of these tests.

                      This is a very limited availability of Rats. Is that what you are proposing, or are they doing something else?

          • Bronnie on 06/01/2022 - 16:57

            @vinnycol: We are yet to see if Mark McGowan has made the right decision. It might prove in time that he was just holding off the inevitable. We will have to see…
            Edit: Same goes for NZ. It is easy to close borders and "Keep the citizens within -safe" - but at what cost to business/tourism etc. For a long time NSW was the gold standard state with the best financial outcome because they didn't close borders. We are yet to see if their dire covid situation keeps getting worse or levels out.
            It'll be hindsight that tells us which country/state made the best decisions for the future. Hard to do that in the middle of the pandemic.

            • vinnycol on 06/01/2022 - 18:13
              +1

              @Bronnie: I guess the delay in opening borders gives the relevant govt that chose to keep their borders shut foresight on the errors in planning and judgement of those that opened either too soon or without the appropriate planning and required infrastructure, ie the PCR testing debarcle process countrywide. With this data, much better planning can be implemented… The evidence is clear…SA for example monumentally stuffed up… The Premier was advised to close the SA borders following the emergence of omicron by his chief medical advisor but chose to decline the advice. This has resulted in unecessary human tragedy and economic backfire… The hospitality industry has all but been decimated as a result of the SA government's decisions… This pandemic will (hopefully) eventually level out, but foresight is always better than hindsight which those jurastictions now have the benefit of… Again, this is only my 2 cents worth… Stay safe….

    • HairyChickens on 06/01/2022 - 02:17
      +8

      Large Angus meal, and a large coke Medium Quarter Pounder meal with a Sprite from McDonald's Engadine anyone?

    • jmi on 06/01/2022 - 05:25
      +68

      The entire population of Australia is nearly 26 million. Each RAT kit cost $2-$3 max.

      Scomo and Don Parrot can afford to give EVERY man, woman and child 3 free RAT kits and it would still COST LESS than the $252M grants rort by the NSW Liberals.

      Let that sink in.

      Btw, ScoMo got his test kits for free - sponsored by us - the taxpayers. "Rules for thee but not for me." - Liberal mantra

      • poppingtags on 06/01/2022 - 09:10
        +8

        If bought in bulk, especially in the millions, the cost per RAT would drop significantly too - the government purchasing it on our behalf, would be cheaper than us trying to secure supply and buy it ourselves.
        The Libs have essentially completely abandoned their responsibilities, one of the worst prime minister's we've ever had.

        • 1st-Amendment on 06/01/2022 - 09:16
          -3

          The Libs have essentially completely abandoned their responsibilities

          Healthcare is mostly the responsibilities of the state, so it's not their responsibility…

          It's amazing how many people in here complain about 'the government' without actually understanding the basics of how it works…

          • 811b11e8 on 06/01/2022 - 09:24
            +2

            @1st-Amendment: Quarantine is a federal responsibility that they abandoned.

            Also healthcare might be a responsibility of the state but the federal government also shares responsibility. Who do you think pays for Medicare and PBS the schemes used to fund medicine?

            • 1st-Amendment on 06/01/2022 - 09:26
              -3

              @811b11e8:

              Quarantine is a federal responsibility

              Oh I see you changed the subject…

            • Bronnie on 06/01/2022 - 17:10

              @811b11e8: You forget that it is the state government that makes the decision how/when to spend their federal allocation of health funds. NSW started buying RATs back in July 2020 (though obviously not enough), but QLD has only just started now.

          • peeppeep on 06/01/2022 - 09:27
            +4

            @1st-Amendment: Purchasing of drugs and diagnostics is essentially a Federal task. TGA is a Federal organisation so duh, purchasing ideally should have been done at the Federal level. I agree most of the states have been absolutely unorganised as well, NSW especially. But to lay all blame on them is a clear case of passing the buck.

            • 1st-Amendment on 06/01/2022 - 09:30
              -1

              @peeppeep:

              Purchasing of drugs and diagnostics is essentially a Federal task.

              No it isn't. The Feds provide funding (eg Medicare), it's up to the states or individual healthcare providers to supply goods and services.

              • peeppeep on 06/01/2022 - 09:34

                @1st-Amendment: FFS read up about the government you are defending! Lol of all places! OzB turning into a funzone for trolls! Didn't see that one coming 😆

                • RockyRaccoon on 06/01/2022 - 11:58

                  @peeppeep: fairs fare mate, someone can have an opinion and just because its not the same as anothers doesnt make them a troll.

                  Now you might have more info on the other poster than I do but given their sattements I cant see that as trolling. Misguided or mistaken?

                  They were reacting initially to your simple statement

                  completely abandoned their responsibilities

                  Completely? Now isnt that a bit over the top? RATS are short everywhere in the world.

                  Guess we didnt see that one coming?

            • Bronnie on 06/01/2022 - 17:11

              @peeppeep: Hindsight makes everyone the expert

    • scottishdave on 06/01/2022 - 05:37
      +8

      ScoMo is keeping one eye on the upcoming elections and wants to show they are good financial managers (!) and another eye on those voters who don't like governments giving out things for free.
      In other words, he won't do the right thing and give us all RAT kits for free.

      ScoMo, just buy one less nuclear submarine and use the money for free RAT kits.

      • Korban Dallas on 06/01/2022 - 09:25
        +2

        The quiet Australians and their franking credits

        Which would have been abolished. Have a look at how much that costs us and expected to cost us in the future.

    • Korban Dallas on 06/01/2022 - 09:14
      +12

      Got fired from tourism Australia. We don't know why. But money and a report went missing.

      What we do know that it was kept under wraps because if it was disclosed it would have hurt his future job prospects.

      https://www.michaelwest.com.au/its-none-of-our-business-what…

      Got fired from Tourism NZ. People who worked with him says he was shady as f¢$¥

      https://www.smh.com.au/national/how-clashes-with-a-minister-…

      Couldn't even gain preselection for the LNP. He was hated that much

      https://www.michaelwest.com.au/scott-john-morrison-where-the…

      Campaign against him for him not to attend his high school reunion. Says he is an embarrassment

      https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-boyco…

      Lies all the time

      This was all before the LNP was voted in. Now the media are starting to turn and now everyone realises what a d¢$¥ he is.

      Trump level idiot.

      To think we could of had
      Bill Shorten
      Albo
      Jim Charmers
      Bowen
      Pibersek
      Kennelly

      But we got
      Scomo
      Fraudenburg
      Wilson
      Taylor
      Allen
      Hunt
      Hawk
      Ley
      Liu
      Tudge
      Porter
      Robert

      If you have no interest in politics or don't know the difference between LNP and Labor I would suggest you research just how bad they have been and the controversy surrounding the members listed above.

      • ruddiger7 on 06/01/2022 - 09:27
        +3

        The rumor is that he ran some very dodgey tender processes which got him sacked from his tourism jobs. The wack thing is that he is repeating those same dodgey tender processes as PM. If only there was a federal ICAC that he had promised to deliver 3 years ago. Still nothing..

        • Korban Dallas on 06/01/2022 - 09:31

          They don't want it to be restrospective because of their dodgy s£_& they have done.

          Labor wants retrospective rules.

      • Korban Dallas on 06/01/2022 - 09:42

        Oh forgot 2 more honourable mentions

        Christensen
        Craig Kelly
        Barnaby

      • arcticmonkey on 06/01/2022 - 13:35
        +2

        Really good links. Thanks.

        Morrison and the Liberals are a disgrace of the highest order.

        Incompetent and inept. Policy failure after policy failure.

        If people paid more attention and looked beyond the media's biased reporting, we would have thrown less money away to big business, we would have had far less corruption and we would have gone through far less pain.

      • Bronnie on 06/01/2022 - 17:33

        You have no concept of what you have just proposed. Everyone is flawed and it is easy to find fault in the ones you "hate".
        However, your list of "desirable" Labor candidates is not as "clean" as you would like to think. I'm afraid that your Labor candidtates are not without sin or undesirable history either. Eg Shorten had allegations similar to Porter, but the then Liberal PM, did not want it politicised, so the media lost interest…unlike when Labor smelt "blood" with the prominent Liberal MP.

      • diddy50 on 10/01/2022 - 21:12

        Spoken like a true Labor party member

        • Korban Dallas on 10/01/2022 - 21:17

          Come on man. Previous Minister for defence highest qualification is a Diploma

    • arcticmonkey on 06/01/2022 - 09:16
      +5

      Agreed. Morrison and the Liberals are useless.

      It beggars belief that a government could completely stuff up the vaccine rollout and a few months later completely bugger up the rapid antigen tests.

      The Liberals can find billions of our money to give to profitable businesses and for rorting but they will not support free tests for all. Why are we paying for a Medicare levy?

      Why not use the money Morrison never spent building quarantine facilities on the rapid antigen tests?

      The Liberals are responsible for the worst policy failures of all time. Corruption is one thing but the Liberals have blood on their hands

      We'd be better off if Morrison pissed back off to Hawaii

      • Bronnie on 06/01/2022 - 17:35
        +3

        A lot of hate in your comments. Might be colouring your responses…

  • Spacexyz on 06/01/2022 - 02:29
    +57

    Every Aussie deserves at least 1 free rapid antigen test every week!

      • morse on 06/01/2022 - 04:06
        +41

        Have you seen some of the other things our taxes have been spent on?

        • Binchicken22 on 06/01/2022 - 09:03
          -6

          Whataboutism…

          • poppingtags on 06/01/2022 - 09:19
            +7

            @Binchicken22: A government spending a miniscule amount of money to protect the nation's health isn't "whataboutism", it's their damn responsibility.

            What all these clowns who've watched a YouTube video about capitalism and think they're Friedrich Hayek keep forgetting is that in order for a government to protect a nation's economy, they need to protect a nation's health.

            We are already seeing severe supply chain disruptions at supermarkets due to Covid related issues, we're seeing mass cancellations of events and bookings due to Covid - what do you think that does to the economy, let alone the health of your fellow Australians?

            • Binchicken22 on 06/01/2022 - 09:22

              @poppingtags: "Have you seen some of the other things our taxes have been spent on?" - this is the definition of "whataboutism", just because it doesn't fit your political viewpoint doesn't make that not a fact.

              • poppingtags on 06/01/2022 - 09:30
                +4

                @Binchicken22: A comparison of budget allocation is an important factor in economic decision making for governments - and in turn, valid grounds to critique a government on.

                Ignoring the point to protect your political viewpoint doesn't make that not a fact.

      • [Deactivated] on 06/01/2022 - 04:44
        +21

        Yes, everybody should pay for their own stuff, there should be no government and people should wander around naked in anarchy instead of wasting taxpayer money on livesaving COVID tests.

        • Binchicken22 on 06/01/2022 - 09:09

          Strawman argument.

          The actual problem is people are unreasonably scared of COVID, admittedly this is half the governments fault, the other half being the media, but still.

          The governments position, being go to the doctors/hospital if you are overly sick, otherwise of just stay home and manage it like you would manage any other respiratory virus at home is actually very reasonable at this stage of the pandemic. We are supposed to be living with it now, not trying to contain it. The genie is out of the bottle.

          90+% of these rat tests are just for peoples own amusement at this point, i.e oh yes this sore throat I've got is COVID, better post about it on Facebook, tiktok etc.

      • rlf on 06/01/2022 - 05:41
        +12

        PCR tests are costing the taxpayer $100 a pop. 200k tests daily in Australia. Do the math.

        • MKBHD on 06/01/2022 - 05:54
          +16

          Exactly why it needs to be free. If this were free, it would cost taxpayers $5 a pop and save $95. If RAT was available for free, I'd go do that instead of wait 4 hours in line for a PCR. I refuse to waste $30 gas money on waiting 4 hours at a drive through and could still be turned away. I will never physically stand in a line for a test. In fact, I won't even do a test at all unless I am required by law. That makes me a danger because I could be spreading my Covid germs around due to lack of free RAT OR quick PCR, wouldn't have done that if RAT was free.

          • DryScissors on 06/01/2022 - 09:01
            +1

            @MKBHD: You should only be lining up if you’re symptomatic though, in which case you wouldn’t be spreading your germs, because you would be self isolating.

        • mdavant on 06/01/2022 - 06:16
          +4

          Yep and PCR tests before Xmas barbecues and before flights should be private too.

          Path labs making squillions

        • [Deactivated] on 06/01/2022 - 06:28
          +4

          you do realise these cost less than $5 a pop to manufacture if you consider actual wholesale prices? The jacked up prices online are just pharmacies taking advantage of the shortage.

          • ArjaytheGuy on 06/01/2022 - 08:52

            @[Deactivated]: That's not accurate at all.

            While there might be some pharmacies doing dodgy stuff- the actual cost price to retailers is more than $7 a test.

            • [Deactivated] on 06/01/2022 - 17:33

              @ArjaytheGuy: You're right, the numbers I was looking at were in USD. Still nowhere near "$100 a pop".

        • choumada on 06/01/2022 - 07:22
          +2

          Wholesale, bulk PCR tests do not cost $100 to run

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