National Press Club crossbench panel: Craig Kelly’s bizarre claim about China

Controversial United Australia Party leader Craig Kelly has made a bizarre claim about Australia becoming like China.

Craig Kelly made a bizarre claim that Australia would start having China-style Covid lockdowns if the country joined forces with global experts.

The controversial Liberal-turned-United Australia Party MP appeared at the National Press Club on Monday alongside Greens leader Adam Bandt, Warringah independent MP Zali Steggall and independent South Australian senator Rex Patrick.

Mr Kelly said he didn’t want to see the widespread Covid lockdowns in China, where people are being confined to their homes, occur in Australia.

He seemed to suggest that would happen if the World Health Organisation went ahead with creating a treaty that would create new rules on how to prevent and prepare for pandemics.

That’s why his first demand in the event of a hung parliament would be to stop the WHO’s global accord on pandemic prevention and preparedness going ahead.

“Firstly, this global accord that the World Health Organisation is talking about, this global pandemic accord, we will ensure that doesn’t go ahead,” he said.

Craig Kelly, Zali Steggall, Adam Bandt and Rex Patrick took part in ‘The Cross Bench’ forum at the National Press Club in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Andrew Taylor

“We’ll expect a commitment from either side of politics.

“We’ve seen how they do things in China that locked down Shanghai, putting cats and dogs in bags and beating them to death.

“We cannot surrender the sovereignty of our nation, our medical decisions to the World Health Organisation.”

Mr Kelly said his party would also demand an end to vaccine mandates.

He also wanted something done about what he called a health crisis in Australia due to an increase in deaths that “no one can explain”.

Ms Steggall said her focus would be on creating an integrity commission with teeth and legislating net zero by 2050.

The Greens would only side with Labor and would demand that Australia stop opening up new coal and gas projects, Mr Bandt said.

“And also push to wipe student debt and lift support for people who are doing it tough by lifting income support,” he added.

Zali Steggall’s main demands are climate change and an integrity commission. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Andrew Taylor

Mr Kelly, Senator Patrick and Mr Bandt all voiced their opposition to stage 3 tax cuts, which were legislated in 2018 as part of an overhaul that is supported by both major parties.

Under the cuts, everyone earning between $45,000 and $200,000 would pay 30 per cent in tax.

That means removing the 37 per cent bracket for those earning more than $120,000.

The highest 45 per cent bracket will also begin at $200,000 instead of $180,000.

“We can’t have tax cuts funded from borrowed money to start with,” Mr Kelly said.

Mr Bandt reiterated that the Greens opposed the cuts.

Clive Palmer was in the audience. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Andrew Taylor

“The Greens oppose it. It will bring $244bn out of the budget. Labor and Liberal support it, sadly. I don’t think billionaires need a $9000 a year per year forever tax cut,” he said.

“That’s what Liberal and Labor are proposing. We would much rather that $244bn goes to schools and hospitals instead of giving Clive Palmer a tax cut.”

Mr Palmer was in the audience in Canberra to support Mr Kelly.

Senator Patrick said: “I would like to look at this in the context of a plan, but I don’t think we need tax cuts for the wealthy. I think that’s hugely problematic.”

But Ms Steggall said she was in favour of them.

However, she said she also wanted a minimum wage rise.

“I do support them, they’re legislated, but what I want to see is a rise to the minimum wage. I do support that that be raised and I do think we need to simplify our tax system when it comes to, for example, the payroll tax,” she said.

“We need to work at growing the pie and that is how we can do it. Small businesses are the backbone of our country. Politicians talk about it all the time, but very little is ultimately done to assist them.”

Originally published as National Press Club crossbench panel: Craig Kelly’s bizarre claim about China