Shepparton has been chosen as a pilot location for a government plan to roll out rapid antigen tests for businesses in critical industries.
More than 100,000 RATs are being made available for businesses in critical industries such as meat and poultry processing to click and collect.
Eligible businesses will buy their tests through the Business Victoria website before picking them up at the Bunnings warehouses in Shepparton and Geelong North when allocations are available.
Businesses are required to register to place orders.
The tests come at a cost of $8.25 including GST per unit, in packs of five, and businesses can order 10, 50 or 100 packs per ABN.
The unit price is wholesale, plus a small admin fee, and neither the Victorian Government nor Bunnings is making a profit.
The test kits are not part of Bunnings’ general stock supply and are not available for purchase by store customers.
Innovation Minister Jaala Pulford said the government was trying to ensure supply chains remained in operation.
“We are making sure our food supply businesses can keep their staff safe and help people stay in work,” she said.
“Rapid antigen tests are helping us to live and work safely at this stage of the pandemic and Bunnings have the click-and-collect capability to keep this simple for businesses.”
Applications to purchase test packs for the pilot are open until February 24 or when the allocation is exhausted, whichever comes first.
Details of how to apply can be found at business.vic.gov.au