Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack’s refusal to condemn COVID misinformation has been labelled a “dangerous” failure by political opponents.
Liberal MP Craig Kelly has been accused of spreading misleading information about unproven treatments for the coronavirus pandemic.
He also recently posted on Facebook a list of statistics claiming that a move to require children to wear face masks would amount to “child abuse”.
But Mr McCormack has denied there is a need to censure Mr Kelly’s social media activity, saying he doesn’t support “censorship”.
“Facts are sometimes contentious and what you might think is right – somebody else might think is completely untrue – that is part of living in a democratic country,” he told the ABC.
“I don’t think we should have that sort of censorship in our society.”
Labor’s health spokesperson Chris Bowen has strongly criticised Mr McCormack’s defence of Mr Kelly. Mr Bowen said he was concerned Mr Kelly was spreading “dangerous” misinformation.
“Craig Kelly has engaged in a systemic and deliberate attempt to undermine our medical health professionals,” he told reporters.
“[He] is a menace, and at every turn, Scott Morrison, and now Michael McCormack, acting prime minister, have failed to call him out.
“It is dangerous because this is a time for confidence in our decision makers,” he added.
Mr McCormack later defended his refusal to criticise Mr Kelly.
“You might look out there and say the sky is blue … but I can see from her that it is grey,” he said.
“I mean there are a lot of subjective things. I was asked about a colleague who puts material up on Facebook – well some of what my colleague puts up is very much true.
“But people on the Twitter sphere, they don’t always like it – well toughen up I say.”
Mr McCormack said he didn’t agree with Mr Kelly’s statement that a compulsory mask mandate for children would amount to child abuse.
But he said he wouldn’t call for Mr Kelly to take down the post.
“It’s a matter for Craig Kelly. I’m a former newspaper editor I don’t believe in censorship,” he said.
“But you’ve always got to be sensible about what you do put online.”
The Australian Medical Association on Tuesday called for the Australian government to invest in “robust online advertising” to counter health misinformation on the internet, including social media channels.
“The internet has the potential to significantly magnify health misinformation campaigns,” Dr Omar Khorshid said.
“We have seen this with the anti-vaccination movement, and the countless conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic that circulate constantly on the internet.”
