‘Stop spreading fear’: QLD MP condemned for misinformation

Queensland MP George Christensen has been criticised for attempting to discredit the use of masks and lockdowns in the fight against Covid-19 and calling medical experts “dictatorial bureaucrats”.

Queensland MP George Christensen has been condemned for claiming that masks and lockdowns don’t work to prevent the spread of Covid-19 – in a shock bipartisan vote in Parliament.

Just prior to question time on Tuesday the Member for Dawson said it was “time to stop spreading fear and acknowledge facts” and described chief medical and health officers as “dictatorial bureaucrats”.

Member for Dawson George Christensen was condemned for spreading misinformation on Covid-19. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“Masks don’t work. Fact … Lockdowns don’t work. Fact,” Mr Christensen said.

“When will the madness end. How many more freedoms will we lose through the fear of a virus which has a survivability rate of 997 out of 1000.”

There have been 202 million cases of Covid-19 and more than 4 million deaths in the past 18 months globally, according to the World Health Organisation.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese moved to condemn Mr Christensen’s comments and called for all MPs not to make ill-informed comments while the pandemic posed a serious health risk to Australians.

“Madness is saying let this disease rip, let people die, let’s stop us being able to return to our way of life,” Mr Albanese said.

“The madness is conspiracy theorists.

“I am scared and Australians are scared of Covid … This is having an impact. People are dying. People are dying, people are getting sick.”

He said the Parliament needed to disassociate itself from the “mad theories’ of the Member for Dawson.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government would call out misinformation where ever it came from, through refrained from naming Mr Christensen.

“Whether it’s posted on Facebook or on social media, whether it’s written in an article or anywhere else,” he said.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese went on the attack against George Christensen during Question Time. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“What I’m not going to do is I’m not going to engage in a partisan debate on this. Australians aren’t interested in the noise of Covid, they’re not interested in the shouting of Covid.”

He said the expert advice of the chief medical and health officers had “saved lives and saved livelihoods”.

Mr Christensen left the chamber during the debate, but made a series of posts to his Telegram and Facebook social media accounts reiterating his statements.

“I’m being your voice in Canberra. That’s my job,” he posted.

“Labor had to virtue signal against my speech opposing mask mandates, lockdowns and domestic vaccine passports.”

The condemning motion was passed on the voices with no division.