Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Health
Colin Brinsden

Watchdog receives 5000 RAT complaints

The ACCC has received more than 5000 complaints involving rapid antigen tests. (AAP)

The consumer watchdog has received around 5000 complaints involving rapid antigen tests, some of which have already been passed on to the police for further investigation.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is close to completing its own investigation into RATs following a series of complaints of overpriced products at a time of supply shortages and heavy demand during the early stages of the Omicron variant outbreak.

A Senate hearing was told the ACCC is now receiving 35 complaints a day over either high prices or a lack of receipt when purchasing a test.

At the peak on January 4, it received 450 complaints in one day.

Outgoing ACCC chair Rod Sims said the commission is running a two track process - one is the overall investigation, the other is looking at the data and calling some retail chains to closely look at their stores and make sure they are doing the right thing.

"There was a bit of putting pressure on, as well as the investigation," Mr Sims said at what will be his last appearance before the Senate economics committee before stepping down.

He said new government biosecurity regulation making it illegal to buy a test and on-sell it at more than 20 per cent was a "very helpful law".

"That helped deal with a lot of rogues and the police are looking at those," Mr Sims said.

So far 70 cases have been passed to the AFP.

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.