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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Paul Karp

Barnaby Joyce apologises for claiming ‘people aren’t dying’ of Covid in Australia

Deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce
Joyce also claimed Australia did not manufacture rapid antigen tests locally and demand for them could not have been predicted. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Barnaby Joyce has apologised for claiming “people aren’t dying” of Covid in Australia, while also blaming consumers and businesses for hoarding rapid antigen tests.

The deputy prime minister made the comments on Monday, the first day that priority groups were due to gain free access to RATs, although supply shortages will likely result in a delay of a few weeks before they are widely available.

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