Chinese companies jack up the price of face masks being sold to Australia by 1000 per cent

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Chinese companies jack up the price of face masks being sold to Australia by 1000 per cent

Chinese companies have jacked up the price of face masks being sold to Australia by 1,000 per cent during the coronavirus pandemic.

The NSW Government is in the process of acquiring 200million face masks for the next year, to meet the demands of the health crisis. 

Instead of relying on the Federal Government to source the personal protective equipment (PPE), the State Government has taken matters into their own hands.

But increased competition across the globe to obtain PPE has led to countries like China driving up the prices, according to The Daily Telegraph. 

Chinese companies have jacked up the price of face masks being sold to Australia by 1,000 per cent during the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured: Health workers at a drive through COVID-19 testing centre

The international procurement squad, overseen by Police Commissioner Mick Fuller and organised by businessman Rod McGeoch, have used business contacts to forge international deals.

Mr McGeoch – who was a driving force behind Sydney securing their 2000 Olympics bid – said there had been price hikes by China.  

‘There have been shifts in the prices as demand has become so intense but nonetheless we have audit controls,’ he told the publication. 

‘Having beaten China for the Olympics by one vote I always wondered if they’d one day make me pay for it – maybe that’s why the prices are going up.’

A senior government minister claimed the Chinese approach was borderline ‘extortion’ but was confident the team was securing the best deals on the table. 

The NSW Government is in the process of acquiring 200million face masks for the next year, to meet the demands of the health crisis. Pictured: Shoppers wear face masks in Eastwood, Sydney, on Wednesday

Up to four Treasury officials sit with the taskforce obtaining PPE at any given time and police help with dispatching goods from planes to make sure their aren’t any delays to the frontline. 

In sourcing contacts, Mr McGeoch said neurosurgeon Charlie Teo connected him to a Chinese contact in Sydney, while former UBS banker Matthew Grounds linked them to contacts through management consulting firm McKinsey and Atlassian founder Scott Farquhar. 

Health Minister Brad Hazzard praised the commitment in ensuring NSW frontline workers access the equipment they need.  

‘I’m blown away by the work that not only health but police, treasury, customer service, investment and the private sector are doing to get to the front line all of the PPE that the rest of the world is scrambling on,’ he said.

Pictured: Police wear protective masks and gloves at Sheraton Hotel in Sydney on Tuesday

 

Source: Daily Mail australia

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