The Morrison government’s scheme for tax deductible Rapid Antigen Tests barely scrapes the surface

Finally, the news we’ve been waiting for has arrived. The Morrison government has made Rapid Antigen Tests needed for work…. tax deductible.

Ultimately, this decision provides no immediate relief for workers who have been so frantically trying to secure themselves RATs.

Nothing can be claimed until tax time in July – so in the meantime, the onus falls back on the Australian public to navigate through the instability of this public health crisis.

Even with this new scheme in place, workers can only acquire a RAT if they can:

1. Actually find one
2. Afford to pay for it up-front
3. Prove that it will be used for work-related purposes

Although the tax claim can be backtracked to 1 July 2021, it still doesn’t guarantee a full refund.

Anyone that earns less than $120 000 for the financial year will receive only $6.50 for every $20 spent on dual packs of RATs.

And anyone who wants the test for personal use will have to do so completely out-of-pocket.

The federal government may want to create an image of making RATs affordable, but their actions show their lack of political will to do so.

The union movement is prepared to support workers where our leaders have failed and continue to put pressure on our political representatives to make RATs free and accessible for all Australians.

Add your name to our petition here.