Anthony Albanese has backtracked on remarks from 5 months in the past that fast antigen checks ought to be free for all Australians.
The opposition chief made free RATs a Labor coverage in January, on the peak of the nation's Omicron wave.
However "occasions have modified", Albanese has mentioned.
"On the time there was an pressing must get RATs out to folks," he mentioned at a press convention in Launceston.
"The federal government was too gradual to order vaccines, and it was too gradual to organise fast antigen checks."
Minutes earlier, Labor frontbencher Invoice Shorten introduced he had examined optimistic for COVID-19.
Shorten tweeted in regards to the optimistic check earlier in the present day.
"By no means good timing for anybody so might be in iso for every week after which free for remaining week of the marketing campaign," he tweeted.
"An excellent reminder to care for ourselves and each other, distance the place you may, open the home windows and do common RATs."
Thirty-three folks in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria have died with COVID-19 up to now 24 hours.
NSW reported 11,671 new COVID-19 instances up to now 24 hours, an increase from yesterday's 10,995 infections.
Victoria has recorded 9365 new COVID-19 instances in a single day.
Queensland has recorded 6662 new COVID-19 instances up to now 24 hours, a drop from yesterday's 7040 infections.
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