“The saliva tests were prioritised to the government’s national stockpile and were pulled from under our nose – without prior notice – causing major delays,” Werko wrote in an email to customers whose orders were held up.
“As a result, all those who have placed an order for these kits will have their orders dispatched on the week of Jan 22nd.”
It said that the Orawell saliva tests specifically were redirected to the national stockpile, and published the same information on its website.
Both individuals and businesses reported having orders delayed for this reason, ranging from an aged care worker in regional Victoria who had ordered tests for themselves to a Queensland consultancy who wanted the tests for staff.
Other companies also reported shortages in saliva tests following government sequestration, offering customers nasal swab tests instead.
Star Hygiene told customers who had ordered Hough rapid tests that the government had claimed its January 3 delivery, causing delays of more than a fortnight as it was sought to backfill the shortage with other brands.
“We were meant to receive an order on the 3rd of January, which was why the delivery ETD was the 5/1/22,” an email sent to a customer said.
“However, this shipment was sequestered by the government, leaving us with no stock to supply existing orders.”
HiCraft also told individuals who had ordered certain rapid tests that the government had claimed the tests they were originally set to receive.
The company had originally told customers the tests were subject to a recall, but clarified on Tuesday that this was requisition by the government following consumer concern that it related to the quality of tests.
“The ‘recall’ of the Orawell Rapid Antigen Test was related to a Government Emergency Requisition and was not a quality recall,” HiCraft’s customer support team wrote in an email.
The Morrison government is currently scrambling to acquire millions of tests as shortages continue to cripple efforts to keep businesses running and hospitals and aged care homes safe through the omicron wave.
It quietly put out almost $62 million worth of tenders for RATs last week, despite continued assurances that improved supply was imminent.
PM denies requisition
But the Prime Minister categorically denied on Wednesday that rapid tests purchased by the public were being diverted to government stockpiles, blaming social media for spreading rumours.
“There have been some absurd allegations made over the summer,” Mr Morrison said.
“The allegations that, you know, the Commonwealth has redirected supplies of rapid antigen tests or, indeed, the Commonwealth has impounded private supplies or sought to frustrate private supplies – none of this is true.
“I have got no idea where that’s coming from … it just floats around on social media and then gets reported.”
His comments followed the Department of Health saying last Friday that it had “not requisitioned all RAT supplies within and entering Australia”.
A HiCraft spokesman cited “massive local demand coupled with current air and sea freight delays” and overseas demand as contributors to the rapid-test shortage but did not deny that the government was requisitioning orders.
Instead, he said the company believed the government was “doing the best they can to manage the competing demands for the limited stocks currently available”.
“Our experience with various government departments has shown a willingness to work with us to ensure a manageable flow of product over the coming weeks and months,” he said.
Star Hygiene said it had been told by its suppliers that the government had sequestered some of its orders. Werko did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.
Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey last week also accused the federal government of requisitioning an order of 20,000 tests purchased by Queensland Rail when it arrived at Sydney airport.
The Morrison government denied issuing a mandate to divert RAT supplies, though Mr Bailey pointed to an email from Queensland Rail’s supplier in which it said it was now only working with federal authorities as proof.
