Claims rapid tests were redirected from pharmacies to governments at the height of the January shortage crisis were false, the consumer watchdog head has revealed.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
But ACCC chair Rod Sims says the matter is still being investigated.
Responding to a question at the National Press Club in Canberra about the investigation, Mr Sims confirmed false claims about redirected tests were made.
"It is murky because people needed a lot of rapid antigen tests very quickly so there was a lot of demand facing limited supply, but the answer is yes, it did happen and yes, we are investigating," he said on Tuesday.
In mid-January reports emerged that rapid test kit supplies were being redirected to the Commonwealth from pharmacies.
But federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the claims were "false, misleading, and untrue" and referred it to the ACCC for investigation.
Mr Sims said one of the "major players" who had made the claim outed themselves to the ACCC at the time and said they didn't have evidence rapid test kits were being redirected.
"So there's one example that clearly was saying it when it wasn't true. We're looking at a range of others," Mr Sims said.
"The federal government said straightaway, 'We weren't doing that'. Whether other governments were doing it, I don't know."
Australian Associated Press
