'What An Utter Shitshow!' Aus Muso Clare Bowditch Takes Aim At PM Over RATs Failure

Much-loved Aussie artist Clare Bowditch has articulately taken aim at the PM over the country’s rapid antigen test fiasco.

With many calling out Scott Morrison over the price and availability of the tests as the Omicron variant of COVID continues to wreak havoc across the country, Bowditch has shared an open letter to the Prime Minister via Instagram addressing the situation.

The Victorian-based artist revealed that her family had been diagnosed with COVID and that they must not end their “(marathon/relay of a) quarantine-period and cannot safely re-enter the community or our work-places until returning a negative (unavailable, unaffordable) RAT test on Day 6 of our isolation”.

She added: “About that… you mentioned yesterday that these RATS are of course free and available for people in our situation (covid-positive and close-contacts of those who are covid-positive) yet please remind me again (for those of us who aren’t Prime Ministers) where do we (*ahem*) access these free and available RAT test that you and your DHHS have advised me to engage with on day 6?

“Asking your citizens to do things that you have made *actually* impossible in order to access the basic yet fundamental freedoms like the ability to leave our homes and make a living is… disastrously ill-advised, and probably not going to be easily forgotten.

“In conclusion, what an…utter, utter, shit- show! Free tickets for all!"

You can read the full open letter here.

Last May, Bowditch called for the Federal Government to give more support to local artists wanting to tour overseas through the COVID-19 vaccination rollout, as well as using artists as an example to help with 'vaccine hesitancy'.

She spoke about the topic when sharing her speech, Music, Mean & Money, at a National Press Club event, while expressing that supporting touring artists would also help support economic recovery for the country. 

"In order for our industry - the music industry - to get its feet back again, we do need a select number of Australian, as I said, 'Olympians', those people in our industry who are right at the cusp, who are bringing that income... It’d be incredible to get a few of those members of our industry out there in safe territories playing their music again," said Bowditch during the question-and-answer portion of the appearance.

"They have to get vaccinated before they go, so use those stories, you know? Every good product has a story of how it’s helpful - let us be helpful in that way. That’s just one example of what we could possibly do. But I think it’s just - you know - my appeal is 'let’s get vaccinated'.

"If you’re scared about it, please go to your doctor and talk about your fears, you know? There are empty vaccination centres waiting there for people like you to get in and get it happening if you can. OK, so have the conversations. You know, there’s been a priority - and of course, there should be - for those who are most vulnerable, those who are getting vaccinated. But the talk now is that there are other chances for other people to get vaccinated - so ask. That’s my hope."