Monique Ryan tells MPs to ‘put their masks on’ while asking about Covid in parliament

The doctor who booted Josh Frydenberg out of his own electorate has berated MPs on the floor of parliament after being interrupted.

The doctor who booted Josh Frydenberg out of his electorate of Kooyong has urged the Liberal MPs to “put your masks on” after being jeered on the floor of parliament.

Independent Dr Monique Ryan rose to her feet to ask her first question during Question Time on Monday – her chosen subject being the impact of Covid – and copped rowdy interjections.

While mask-wearing is recommended it is not mandatory inside parliament, and it is largely non-existent on the opposition benches.

A former paediatric neurologist, Dr Ryan asked the Health Minister Mark Butler about the risk that repeated Covid infections could cause long-term side effects.

“Repeated infections with Covid-19 can be more severe and carry a high risk of persisting symptoms for as long as six months, as well as an increased risk of hospitalisation and death,” she said.

“There is an increasing risk of cumulative neurological and cardiovascular disease from infections from Covid-19.

“Can the minister please explain how he proposes to manage the oncoming national significant burden of disability and chronic illness from repeated infection?”

As she was jeered by some MPs she shot back, “Put your masks on,” pointing at the opposition benches.

The moment Dr Ryan told Liberal and National MPs to put their masks on.

In response, the Health Minister said he was pleased that the large number of health professionals in parliament “will add depth to our health policy.

“This pandemic is still ravaging our community,‘’ he said

“In particular, as the member pointed out, people should wear masks when indoors and they are not able to be socially distant.

“Long Covid is not easy to diagnose or treat.

“The truth is, Mr Speaker, we don‘t know the scale of the challenge. A common estimate (is that) about 4 per cent of Covid patients experience long-term symptoms, (which) already runs to hundreds and hundreds of thousands of Australians.

Independent Dr Monique Ryan rose to her feet to ask her first question on Monday on the impact of Covid as the virus continues to surge in Australia.

“Support is available through our standard medical system. States are operating long Covid clinics. Their waiting lists are growing. It is increasingly clear to me that we will need to develop a focused response nationally to the phenomenon of long Covid.

“I am keen to continue discussions with the Member for Kooyong and other members of this place on this profound long-term health challenge that is proving to be so debilitating and distressing for so many Australians.”

Dr Ryan later tweeted about her remark to Coalition MPs, saying she didn’t “appreciate being interrupted while speaking on serious risks of repeated Covid infections”.

“I particularly don’t appreciate being interrupted by shouting LNP MPs who refuse to wear masks. We all have a duty to look after each other, here and everywhere. Put your mask on!” she wrote.

I don’t appreciate being interrupted while speaking on serious risks of repeated covid infections.

I particularly don’t appreciate being interrupted by shouting LNP MPs who refuse to wear masks.

We all have a duty to look after each other. Here & everywhere.

Put your mask on! pic.twitter.com/u5evZ0k4Oi

— Dr Monique Ryan MP (@Mon4Kooyong) August 1, 2022

Earlier on Monday, there were more tense scenes over in the Senate, as outspoken Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe inserted a dig at the Queen into her oath of allegiance.

Ms Thorpe has previously stated that the Australian parliament has no permission to be here and that her role as an Indigenous woman was to “infiltrate” the Senate.

Asked to recite the oath of allegiance this morning, she marched towards the despatch box with her fist in the air and then stated: “I sovereign, Lidia Thorpe, do solemnly and sincerely swear that I will be faithful and I bear true allegiance to the colonising Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”

MPs then interjected, warning that “you’re not a senator” if she failed to correctly recite the oath.

“Senator Thorpe, Senator Thorpe, you are required to recite the oath as printed on the card,’’ Senate President Sue Lines said.

Senator Thorpe then took the oath again, mispronouncing heirs as the Queen’s “hairs” and successors.

She later took to Twitter to declare: “Sovereignty never ceded.”

Lidia Thorpe has been forced to take a second oath of allegiance in the Senate chamber at Parliament House. Picture: Lukas Coch/AAP

.@Greens senator and Indigenous activist @SenatorThorpe has caused a stir in the federal Senate this morning by mockingly reciting the oath of allegiance. https://t.co/Rql2Eda0bd#auspol#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/VNtdaYz8lV

— 7NEWS Australia (@7NewsAustralia) August 1, 2022

It’s not the first time the Greens Senator has raised concerns about colonisation.

Speaking to ABC radio in June, she argued the Australian flag represents “dispossession, massacre and genocide” and accused the media of pitting her against Liberal Senator Jacinta Price.

“The colonial project came here and murdered our people. I’m sorry we’re not happy about that,” she said.

“If people are going to get a little bit upset along the way, well that’s just part of the truth telling. The truth hurts.”