Three in four Australians want Prime Minister Scott Morrison to publicly criticise Liberal MP Craig Kelly for spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic on social media.
Progressive think-tank the Australia Institute has surveyed 1,003 Australians about their concerns about the sharing of misleading information during the coronavirus pandemic.
Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Health Minister Greg Hunt last week refused to criticise Liberal MP Craig Kelly after he posted the results of a study that said forcing children to wear face masks was akin to "child abuse" on Facebook.
Health experts have said that, if the spread of misinformation is left unchecked, it would undermine crucial trust in Australian public health officials and could hamper efforts to smother the virus.
The Australia Institute's polling found 77 per cent agreed agreed that Mr Morrison has a responsibility to criticise Liberal MPs who posted misinformation.
Among that 77 per cent, 38 per cent of respondents strongly agreed that Mr Morrison should take action.
The Australia Institute’s deputy director Ebony Bennett said Mr Morrison should act on the findings of the poll.
Liberal MP Craig Kelly. Source: AAP
“Vaccinating the Australian population against COVID-19 will be one of the largest peacetime operations in Australian history and if MPs who spread misinformation like Craig Kelly have the tacit endorsement of the Prime Minister it will only jeopardise and undermine the success of the public health effort,” she said.
Australia’s chief medical officer Paul Kelly has refused to be drawn on Mr Kelly’s actions, last week saying it “just gives prominence to views I don’t agree with and are not scientifically based.”
“He needs to decide what is the appropriate thing for a member of Parliament to be commenting on,” he told reporters.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously said “if misinformation or disinformation is being presented, we will be also seeking to proactively address that through official channels.”
The polling also found 56 per cent of Australians believe Scott Morrison should criticise President Donald Trump for his role in inciting the riot of Trump supports at the US Capitol.
Mr Morrison has declined to personally condemn Mr Trump over his role in fuelling the incident – despite other world leaders directly laying blame on the US President.
Another 26 per cent said he should not criticise Mr Trump.
