Queensland needs to ‘look at’ scrapping PCR tests

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has called on Queensland to "look at" allowing rapid antigen tests as an alternative to the PCR test entry requirement currently in place.

There are growing calls for the Queensland government to consider scrapping the PCR test requirement, as testing capacity in Victoria and New South Wales is becoming overstretched as COVID-19 cases skyrocket.

Mr Littleproud said the issue would be discussed during Wednesday’s National Cabinet meeting, where the Prime Minister would be “asking them to understand the science that’s there at the moment”.

“Obviously, the states have to get comfort with this, but I think it’s something they should be prepared to look at,” Mr Littleproud told Sky News Australia.

“I think that’s where the Premier should move now, is be bold enough to say: ‘let’s look at this, let’s understand that if we can use the rapid testing, we should’.

“That’ll alleviate all the testing pain in Victoria and New South Wales at the moment.”