Podcasts Other The Mike Hosking Breakfast Brooke van Velden: ACT's deputy leader says $531m spent on Covid tests could have been used for nurses' payrise

Brooke van Velden: ACT's deputy leader says $531m spent on Covid tests could have been used for nurses' payrise

Published: July 6, 2023, 7:43 p.m.

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ACT says $531 million spent on unused Covid tests is money down the drain.

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Our newsroom can reveal Te Whatu Ora has almost 60 million rapid antigen tests in stock around the country.

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About 30 percent of them have already expired or are due to expire by month\'s end.

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ACT\'s deputy leader Brooke van Velden says this shows total disregard for the good use of taxpayers\' money.

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She says the half-a-billion dollars could have been spent on a 10,000 pay rise for every nurse.

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Te Whatu Ora says it\'s considering approaching the market to look at options for getting rid of unused tests.

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