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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has angrily denied a rumour that his government has diverted rapid antigen tests ordered by state governments and other suppliers.
Following a national cabinet meeting on Thursday, Mr Morrison said the claims RATs were being diverted for use by the Federal government were just 'not true'.
'Supplies of rapid antigen testing kits are not being redirected to the Commonwealth and at no time has the [health] department sought to place itself ahead of other commercial and retail entities,' Mr Morrison said.
'Where such claims have been made, the Department has written to the relevant retail to reassure them that is not the case and seek further details or evidence made by suppliers.'
Queensland's Deputy Premier Steven Miles claimed at a press conference this morning, for example, that RATs acquired for Queensland Rail had been diverted by the Commonwealth government.
In other details to emerge from national cabinet, Mr Morrison said the isolation period for a positive case will remain at seven days.
'The close contact definition that we have for essential workers is doing the job of alleviating the pressure and at the same time, helping us stay within our capacity to continue to support our hospital system,' he said.
A proposal to reduce the isolation period for positive people to five days had not been agreed to for now, Mr Morrison said.
'Some countries are doing five days, that is fine, they will make calls for their jurisdiction,' he said.
'We talk through the balance of risk on those things and it's about where you said that risk dial and we've chosen to keep it where it is on the 7-day
