Why did the Australian Government fail the RAT test?

Without an intimate knowledge of State Health Authorities (who are naturally conservative, and also responsible to Ministers ie politics, ATAGI (who are conservative) or National Cabinet discussions we can’t make a sensible comment about this. What we can say: COVID never ran amuck here to the same extent as UK so the need for rapid tests was less compelling to health experts /Gvt for whom accurate PCR tests addressed the risk of being blamed for fatal COVID outbreaks (eg in aged care) pinned to inaccurate RATs. Generally: it’s too easy in retrospect to criticise anything for lack of foresight. We should expect less foresight from Governments that have to respond to short termism (events/issues that come out if the blue), meaningless media storms, firestorms (anything from false outrage to serious issues eg sexual assault), natural events (fire, flood drought, pandemic etc) and the demands of the annual budget cycle, reporting and the political cycle. Overlay this with politcal lobbying by interest groups AND illogical community assumptions that the Government should fix this or it is the Government’s fault. No wonder there is little cognitive capacity to deal with medium/long-term planning.

Like many people I bought RATs back in Oct-Nov 2021. I still haven't had the need to use them. Now I have more for kids going back to school, supplied by NSW Gov. There were plenty of approved RATs back in 2021 but like most "essential" products, demand has overwhelmed even the best supply chains. For local manufacturers I have no doubt the approvals process was expedited albeit conservative in approach. But people expect this for good reason. Note Paul that Ellume has a major recall on its RAT products. Conservative or prudent however you look at it. A worse case is that public confidence in useful devices is undermined by poor easy-of-use, lack of technical including consumer support or indeed product failure.

Paul Wood AO Great interview! I am very curious to understand your thoughts are on what Scott Morrison has said in the last couple of days on sunrise and at the National Press Club re test shortages. It’s quite difficult to unpack the political spin here as it involves the TGA and regulatory approval timelines for at home use of tests. https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/scott-morrison-comes-under-fire-for-rat-hunger-games/news-story/494dba9e87634dde4b1c90aa2cd33e3e

Sam Lanyon

So now bureaucrats and politicians try to shift the blame and cover their hind-parts