“Adding more burden onto us by saying we need to manage this and organise paying for and obtaining these tests, that’s an issue in itself,” he said. “It’s more issues and more distractions.”
“The government has got to be paying for this. Deliver them to us, and then we can hand them out.”
Metromovers chief executive Peter Borain (second from right) with some of his staff before the pandemic.
Access to RATs has been a major issue for both individuals and businesses over the past month as both state and federal governments have begun to rely on the tests more as the rapidly growing Omicron wave has overwhelmed traditional PCR testing.
Currently, workers in essential industries such as food supply can continue to work even when deemed a close contact of someone with COVID provided they test negative on RATs before each shift.
Major employees in these industries such as Coles and Woolworths have supplied workers with RATs when required, however even some of the country’s largest businesses have struggled to secure a reliable supply.
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A spokesperson for Endeavour Group, which owns hundreds of hospitality venues alongside major drinks retailers Dan Murphy’s and BWS, told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald the company was experiencing difficulties with its RAT supply.
“Endeavour is facing the same challenges with RAT kit supply that all stakeholders across Australia are experiencing and we are diligently managing the supply that we have while engaging constructively with suppliers on availability,” they said.
“We’re confident this work will result in our team getting the support that they need during this difficult time.”
Similarly, a spokesperson for Telstra said the business had also had some “initial challenges” finding RATs, the company currently had enough for workers in its critical divisions such as its triple zero call centre.
Alexi Boyd, the chief executive of small business industry body COSBOA, said the government should be looking at models similar to those of the UK’s, where citizens receive free RATs from the government.
She also called for better clarity for business owners over the requirements for testing of staff, saying current guidelines were vague and difficult to interpret.
“We’re calling for better understanding of when do workers need to be tested? When do they need to isolate? It’s all about answering all those questions,” Ms Boyd said.
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