@Rocket6

Interesting piece of information. It seemed quite high in my mind when I read your post. I had a quick google to see if there is any pricing around and it does seem like the government is overpaying. Their price seems to sit around the higher end of the range of pricing for the PCR test alone, but it does depend on several factors like turnaround times.

An article by the ABC states:

At most of the major private pathology clinics, the cost of a test sits at around $150 a pop although, at one GP clinic, we've seen fees as low as $50.

This is for a private test for travellers where the government doesn't subsidise the test through Medicare. Obviously these private clinics would have to make some sort of money on the tests and so you would assume that what an individual would pay would be just slightly higher than what the government would pay on a large scale. I guess there was no deal made and so they are paying the Max price. Great for Sonic Healthcare that's for sure.

I guess this also depends on the turnaround time the government is getting from the tests too. Companies like Healius Pathology charge $150 for a Covid PCR test or a whopping $300 for the same test with a same-day turnaround. Other companies are charging a little extra for Serology tests bundled with the PCR swabs as see below with Melbourne Pathology's pricing.