Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Deputy Leader and Member for Hinchinbrook, Nick Dametto, has welcomed the Prime Minister’s recent statement[1] supporting the use of rapid antigen testing, as well as the Queensland Government’s proposal for New South Wales (NSW) residents visiting the state be only subject to rapid antigen testing,[2] as a victory of common sense over politics.

Mr Dametto said he was pleased that KAP’s recommendation of incorporating a wider use of rapid antigen testing in the public health response to COVID-19 was being considered for adoption in Australia, but questions why it took so long for Government to come around to supporting the KAP’s proposal from November.[3]

“The proposal we floated in November to re-open Queensland had rapid antigen testing as its centre-piece,” Mr Dametto said.
Mr Dametto said the proposal fell on deaf ears with the Queensland State Labor Government.

“Under KAP’s plan to re-open the borders, all Queenslanders, would have the option to demonstrate they are either fully vaccinated or have tested negative for COVID-19 in the last 48 hours when entering a prescribed mandated premises or workplace,” Mr Dametto said.

“We proposed that negative COVID-19 tests could be uploaded to the ‘Check-in Queensland’ app, similar to proof of vaccination documents, and used in their place for those who have personal and medical reasons for not being vaccinated,” Mr Dametto said.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) had approved more than 13 types of rapid antigen testing kits from hundreds of manufacturers by the time of KAP’s public proposal in mid-November.

Mr Dametto said the Queensland tourism and hospitality industries had been bearing the brunt of the State’s ever changing COVID-19 restrictions which include mandates, lockdowns and quarantining this daily swing in policy is causing confusion and anger amongst business owners and patrons.

“We need a clear direction on how we are going to mange living with COVID-19 not a daily shift in restrictions. With the sometimes-daily change in restrictions or quarantine requirements for close and casual contacts some Queenslanders are starting to tune out and not take notice of the restrictions. They simply can’t keep up.

“Businesses, visitors to our state and Queenslander’s deserve certainty. This is the only way Queensland’s economy can prepare to recover from the pandemic,” Mr Dametto said.