Entrepreneur Austyn Campbell has been praised for her $26 million rapid antigen test “gamble” by a who’s who of Potts Point locals who she sold the tests to over summer on Facebook for just $12.50.
While the same tests have been purchased by importers and sold to Australian retailers for as little as $5 per unit, price gouging over Christmas had some chemists trying to charge desperate families four times that amount, with single tests being sold for $20.
By comparison, the $12.50 price that Ms Campbell was offering to “the community” of Sydney’s eastern suburbs represented “a steal” at only double the wholesale price importers were securing the tests for when they were impossible to find.
Founder of the Potts Pointers community group, Carrington Brigham, who affectionately refers to the suburb as PoPo, said he was just grateful that Ms Campbell would provide the tests to locals as an act of community service.
“Austyn Campbell has been extremely generous in offering RATs to everyone through Christmas and New Years and gave them at the right price for everyone. Let’s celebrate a great Australian success story,’’ he told the Potts Pointers Facebook group.
“Congrats!’’
The former Liberal Party digital strategist now runs a communications firm, Agenda C, with managing director Parnell Palme McGuiness, who has also done previous work for the Liberal Party.
Mr Brigham said Ms Campbell deserved the thanks and gratitude of the local community for selling at such a reasonable mark-up.
“Austyn, my neighbour who is lovely, gave her community of Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay $12 RATs, supplied them to people who most needed them,’’ he wrote on his Twitter account @DigitalMediaBoy.
“Good on her!”
A who’s who of well-connected Potts Point locals including the Liberal strategist and legal eagles flooded the suburb’s Facebook group last night after news.com.au wrote about Ms Campbell’s $26 million contract.
“Well done on your story on news.com.au today about the kits. You anticipated the market, took the gamble and it paid off,’’ one Potts Point local said.
“Thank you. It was definitely a gamble!” Ms Campbell replied.
Former NSW Bar President Jane Needham SC said she was also a lucky buyer of the $12 RATs who was thrilled to have purchased from Ms Campbell.
However, she was annoyed Ms Campbell’s preferred choice of picture for her personal Facebook and Instagram accounts featuring her in a bathing suit diving off a boat in Corsica was used in media coverage of her deal to supply the federal government with rapid tests.
“The photograph of Ms Campbell in her swimmers seems unnecessary for the story.[disclaimer: I have bought ATAGI-approved RATs from her at a non-inflated price through the FB group mentioned],’’ she wrote.
Ms Campbell’s original post over summer offered to hook up Potts Pointers with reasonably priced RATs when chemists couldn’t source stock.
“If anyone requires any RATs then please let me know. We have a few thousand in stock,’’ Ms Campbell wrote.
“Not looking to gauge (sic) anyone ($12.50 each), just make them available to our community. I own a pharmacy distribution company and we are the TGA sponsors of these tests.”
It’s not the first time that Potts Pointers have used the group to sell PPE and pandemic supplies to desperate locals.
In June 2020, in a “public service announcement” to Potts Pointers, local resident Drew Johnson alerted residents to a “pop up store” selling PPE.
“PSA for anyone looking for PPE. There is a pop up store in the old spit roast site. 3 ply masks $39 for a box of 50, sanitiser $5 for 500 mls, alcohol wipes pack of 50 $5, K95 box of 20 $80,’’ he wrote.
Ms Campbell was also involved in that pop up store, promising one local that she could have the PPE delivered to homes if required.
“I can have some dropped to you if you require? I live 1 minute from the chicken shop,’’ she said.
Last year, Ms Campbell also used the Facebook group to secure volunteers to test the new saliva antigen tests.
“Hello Potts Pointers. I am wondering if anyone knows anyone that is currently Covid positive? We are testing the new TGA-approved Antigen Rapid Tests before them being available through pharmacies in the first week of November,’’ she wrote.
“We need some additional test cases to give us feedback regarding the ease of use. Thanks!”
Last week, the Australian Federal Police warned individuals and businesses they could face five years in prison or a $66,000 fine if they are caught reselling Covid-19 tests for more than 20 per cent of the original retail purchase price.
The legal changes mean that if an individual or business buys RATs from a retailer, like a chemist, and then sells those RATs for more than 20 per cent of what they were purchased for, they will face criminal charges under the law.
It does not apply to retailers who buy from a wholesaler.
Anyone found to be breaking the rules could also be forced to surrender the RATs, which will be sent to the National Medical Stockpile.
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“The AFP will use its full powers to crack down on RAT price gouging,” AFP Assistant Commissioner Crime Command Nigel Ryan said.
“Not only is price gouging of RATs unethical but it is illegal, and the AFP will use its significant resources to ensure it protects the public from the unlawful greed of others.
“My message is clear. Do not risk jail time or a significant fine for a few extra dollars.
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