Coronavirus In Australia: Calls To Secure Medical Equipment Stock After Reports Of CCP-Linked Chinese Firm Diverting It

The Australian Medical Association has warned that the country needs to quickly move to secure its stocks of personal protective equipment including face masks and suits amid reports that a Chinese government-backed global property giant in Sydney diverted its staff to purchasing medical equipment during January and February.

Australia ‘s leading national daily The Sydney Morning Herald reported that global property giant Greenland Group, which has close links to the Chinese government, had instructed its Sydney office staff to put their normal work on hold and source bulk supplies of essential medical items to ship back to China.

The report quoted a company insider as saying "Basically all employees, the majority of whom are Chinese, were asked to source whatever medical supplies they could," The exercise was done through January and February, he said.

The Greenland group is said to have mobilised bulk supplies of surgical masks, thermometers, antibacterial wipes, hand sanitisers, gloves and Panadol for shipping to China to help the government during the coronavirus epidemic outbreak in Wuhan.

The Greenland group, which is majority owned by the Shanghai government, has sold more than a billion dollars worth of residential apartments in Sydney and Melbourne since its arrival in 2013.

The Guardian quoted South Australian AMA president, Dr Chris Moy as saying “We have to do whatever we can to secure supplies.”

Moy said there had been a level of “push and pull” at the global level over supplies of crucial medical equipment, with reports of ships being diverted and price gouging.

“It’s my understanding that a lack of PPE was a major issue in Italy,” Moy said. “It was not just misuse but also theft by staff in hospitals and surgeries.