State opposition claims items were sub-standard and faulty.

 

New South Wales’ opposition party has accused the state government of wasting more than three quarters of a billion dollars on PPE that had to be thrown out because it did not meet standards.

 

The figures reported in the NSW Health Annual report revealed that $158.8 million worth of face masks were discarded as they failed to meet requirements, another $20.7 million was spent on faulty PPE and $37.6 million on PPE that expired.

 

COVID-19 PPE include surgical face masks, particulate filter respirators (P2 or N95), gloves, goggles, glasses, face shields, gowns and aprons.

 

"It's staggering that the government would waste hundreds of millions of dollars on buying PPE that didn't even meet regulations," NSW Labor leader Chris Minns said.

 

Minns said workers left without suitable protection at the peak of the pandemic would be "understandably furious" to learn the government had been throwing out PPE. 

 

A spokesperson for NSW Health said the faulty equipment was sourced by a "whole of government" procurement group, led by NSW Police.

 

"The focus for all procurement was on safeguarding the people of NSW," the spokesperson said.