‘Crazy conspiracies’: Plibersek confronts Kelly over COVID drug claims

Mr Kelly defended himself by citing the work of immunologist Robert Clancy, an Emeritus Professor at Newcastle University, in favour of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin as treatments for COVID-19.

Professor Clancy told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age on Tuesday that studies had shown hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin worked, but Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said last month there was not enough evidence to show they should be used.

Mr Kelly told Ms Plibersek that she was the one spreading misinformation.

“So your Prime Minister is wrong, is he?” Ms Plibersek asked.

“No, the Prime Minister is 100 per cent right,” Mr Kelly said.

“Scott Morrison agrees with you, does he Craig?” she asked.

The government has been unable to curb Mr Kelly even though his public claims are at odds with the official health advice from Professor Kelly and the former chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, now Health Secretary.

Mr Morrison telephoned Mr Kelly shortly before question time on Tuesday to ask him about his views, knowing Labor would ask the government to condemn the backbencher.

Mr Kelly repeated his arguments to journalists after Ms Plibersek left the corridor but he rejected claims he opposed vaccination.

“Of course the Prime Minister wanted to hear it directly from my voice, that I am not an anti-vaxxer and I support the government on the vaccine rollout,” Mr Kelly said.

“He wanted to hear those words from my mouth.”

Mr Kelly said Mr Morrison did not ask him to stop speaking as he wished and did not criticise him for appearing on a podcast with Pete Evans, the celebrity chef who was removed from Facebook for spreading misinformation about the pandemic.

Mr Kelly said Mr Morrison did not say he was unhappy with his public remarks.

“It was a very short conversation because he wanted to make sure he had clarified my position before he went into question time,” Mr Kelly said.

Mr Kelly said he did not oppose vaccination, had a flu shot every year and would make a decision about the COVID-19 vaccines after a consultation with his doctor.

“I’m absolutely not an anti-vaxxer. I’ve had my photograph taken with my local doctor, I’ve had my photograph taken with my local chemist having a flu vaccination shot,” he said.

Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid last month warned about Mr Kelly’s “crackpot” ideas, and the MP has been rebuked by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

Ms Plibersek later told 2GB radio host Ray Hadley that she was worried about her mother, aged almost 90, and others who could be exposed to people who refused to be vaccinated.

“I’m also thinking about the local coffee shop she’s sitting in – they’re at half capacity now because of this terrible pandemic and the economic toll it’s taken,” she said.

“I want things back to normal as quickly as possible and the fastest way back to normal is to get the majority of the population vaccinated as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

Hadley said Mr Kelly should change his approach even if he did not change his mind.

“As well-intended as Craig may be from time to time, I think he’s got this one horribly wrong, and I just wish he’d drop off,” he said.