Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has fiercely shut down a Today Show host after they asked if his government would pay for rapid antigen tests.
Mr Joyce hit back at suggestions the government would be required to fund the tens of millions of self-test kits due to hit Australian shores throughout January.
'We're bringing them in, I don't know whether we're going to be funding them. We will make sure we facilitate them,' he said during an appearance on Thursday.
'Nothing is free. What the government does is it gets something and then sends you the bill on your salaries and wages.
'You just pay for it later on.'
Mr Joyce (pictured) hit back at suggestions the government would be required to fund the tens of millions of self-test kits due to hit Australian shores throughout January
The Today Show host interrupted Mr Joyce to remind him rapid antigen tests were being handed out for free in 'almost every other country'.
Joyce was quick to respond, saying: 'What that means is the taxpayer pays for it later on. I imagine that there will be some involvement from government like subsidisation or they'll be free'.
'But nothing is free. All that happens is you pay it on your tax later on. If you want something to be free you are fooling yourself.
'The money doesn't fall out of the air, we take it off your wages, salaries, businesses to pay for them.'
Mr Joyce said he was 'trying to be the adult on this one' and said if people thought the tests were free, they weren't - they 'went on your credit card later on'.
The host said those who couldn't afford the tests like people in aged-care or pensioners might find his statements hard to hear.
'On that issue, the people that are struggling, the pensioners, for people in aged care they would be free,' Mr Joyce softened.
'But nothing is free. All that happens is you pay it on your tax later on. If you want something to be free you are fooling yourself,' Mr Joyce said when asked if RATs would be free (stock image)
Mr Joyce clarified people who were struggling, like pensioners or those in aged-care would receive the tests for free (pictured, signage notifying customers RATs are sold out)
'This idea that everybody gets them for free, I don't know about that.'
The deputy prime minister described his experience of the Omicron variant, saying was a '2.5 out of 10 flu for a couple of
