Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Christopher Knaus and David Conn

Covid inquiry to examine PPE procurement after revelations Australia got 46m unusable masks

Health workers conduct Covid tests at the St Vincent’s hospital drive-through testing clinic at Bondi Beach in Sydney in 2021
Workers conduct Covid tests in 2021. Robyn Kruk, who is leading Australia’s Covid-19 inquiry, has confirmed it will examine PPE procurement. Photograph: Steven Saphore/AFP/Getty Images

The head of Australia’s Covid inquiry has signalled her panel will examine the procurement of PPE after revelations that a $100m deal with a relatively obscure online retailer left the government with 46m unusable masks.

The Guardian revealed on Wednesday that the former government had signed two contracts with the online retailer named ABM to supply Australia with 50m masks and 7m gowns during the early months of the pandemic.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.