Lieutenant SA Governor Dr James Muecke defends his political impartiality after photo with anti-vaxxer Dr Aseem Malhotra
One of the state’s leading public and medical figures went to an anti-vaxxer doctor’s Adelaide speech “out of respect for his years of support”.
SA News
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One of the state’s leading public figures has defended his political impartiality after he was photographed at an event headlined by a high-profile critic of Covid-19 mRNA jabs.
Former Australian of the Year Dr James Muecke, second in line to Governor Frances Adamson, attended British Dr Aseem Malhotra’s keynote speech earlier this month.
On Sunday, Dr Muecke, a world-leading eye surgeon and former South Australian of the Year, defended his conduct and impartiality as the state’s Lieutenant Governor.
Dr Malhotra, a London-based cardiologist, was the drawcard of the three-hour event at Norwood Concert Hall on June 4, titled “curing the corruption of medicine, a new beginning”.
The controversial physician, 45, has made a series of inflammatory statements about Covid-19 vaccinations, in claims other experts dispute.
Photographs with Dr Muecke, who Government Gazette records show will be acting Governor over the next three weeks from Monday when Ms Adamson is away, were published online.
“Dr James Muecke is a brilliant doctor, who was named Australian of the year in 2020. He’s fully Vaxxed & yesterday he came to my talk in Adelaide,” Dr Malhotra later told supporters.
“He congratulated me afterwards & is now fully supportive of my advocacy on this issue. This is highly significant.”
In another social media post, Dr Malhotra praised his colleague for having “always been and continues to be fully supportive of my advocacy for greater transparency in medicine. A significant moment”.
Dr Malhotra’s social media messages, which contradict official government policy on vaccinations, included emoji icons for thankyou, a fist and loveheart.
Delighted that Australian of the year 2020, the brilliant Dr James Muecke attended and congratulated me on my talk in Adelaide yesterday. He has always been and continues to be fully supportive of my advocacy for greater transparency in medicine. A significant moment ðŸ™â¤ï¸ðŸ‘Š pic.twitter.com/iOKPRkkUIo
— Dr Aseem Malhotra (@DrAseemMalhotra) June 5, 2023
But senior government sources questioned Dr Muecke’s attendance. Some were “surprised and concerned to see the Lieutenant Governor of South Australia meeting and dining with an anti-vax campaigner who was here to speak at an event”.
“It is important that the position is seen to be politically neutral especially on controversial issues,” one top official said.
The role of Lieutenant Governor, created in 1838, is the first person to be called to act as the Vice Regal representative in the absence of the Governor.
They also may act as the state’s administrator at the request of the Premier while the Chief Justice is the next in line to be appointed if they are unavailable.
Government House has no explicit rules on impartiality but its website states: “Given (their) place as the Head of South Australia’s constitutional structure, it is important that the Governor remains apolitical and impartial.”
Former diplomat Ms Adamson, the Foreign Affairs and Trade Department secretary before her appointment in 2021, is known to be fiercely impartial and has spoken to The Advertiser of performing her duties above politics.
Announcing his role in January 2021, former Premier Steven Marshall described Dr Muecke as “one of South Australia’s favourite sons”.
On Sunday, Dr Muecke, an ophthalmologist who is known as a health crusader, said he was “fully aware of the need to be neutral in my role”.
“I should, however be able to attend a presentation by a medical colleague,” he added.
He said Dr Malhotra was in Adelaide recently and “invited me to a public presentation he delivered”.
“Aseem supported me as 2020 Australian of the Year in my lobbying government re the dangers of excessive sugar consumption,” he said.
“He was the doctor who successfully lobbied for a sugar tax in the UK.
“I attended out of respect for his years of support to me, indeed it was the first time we had formally met.
He added: “Indeed I was hoping to attend my friend (British broadcaster) Dr Michael Mosley’s recent presentation in Adelaide (as) I couldn’t make it at the last minute.
“I was unaware of the content of either presentation.
“It’s really just an example of supporting friends and colleagues when they present.
“I have given many presentations over the past few years and always appreciate when I receive support from friends and colleagues.”
A Government House spokeswoman referred inquiries to “Dr Muecke’s response”.
“Dr Muecke will attend to any necessary Vice-Regal duties in Her Excellency’s absence,” she added.
“Her Excellency will be on official duty in the Riverland, and (then) will be on leave.”
Premier Peter Malinauskas declined to comment.
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