Craig Kelly defies Scott Morrison on alternative COVID treatments

Liberal backbencher Craig Kelly has again endorsed the use of controversial drugs against COVID-19 on social media.

Member for Hughes Craig Kelly.

Less than a week after his corridor clash with Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek, Liberal MP Craig Kelly has again taken to ­social media to endorse ivermectin as an effective treatment against COVID-19, despite its rejection by Australia’s Chief Medical Officer.

Mr Kelly’s most recent Facebook posts concerning the drug come days after Scott Morrison reportedly reprimanded him for spruiking bogus theories about the treatment of COVID-19.

“It is true that the views expressed by the member for ­Hughes do not align with my views, or the views of the advice that has been provided to me by the Chief Medical Officer,” the Prime Minister told parliament on Wednesday.

“(He) and I discussed these matters, and I made it very clear that was the view of me as Prime Minister and of course the views of the government.”

Following their meeting, Mr Kelly affirmed his support for the vaccine rollout, saying the spread of misinformation was wrong and dangerous: “I have always sought to support the success of our nation’s public health response during the pandemic.”

Tanya Plibersek and Craig Kelly went toe to toe in the corridors of the National Press Gallery last week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

However, Mr Kelly turned to Facebook on Sunday to defend his advocacy of ivermectin: “For avoidance of doubt, for those unable to grasp the science and that emotionally argue against ivermectin — supporting medical experts’ right to discuss treatment with ivermectin is not anti-vax.”

In an earlier post, citing a Melbourne doctor’s support of the drug, he wrote: “Will the media now pile abuse upon this Melbourne GP and accuse him of spreading dangerous misinformation? Will GetUp and (Anthony) Albanese launch into a hate campaign against him?”

Mr Kelly says his support of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin is based on the research of immunologist Robert Clancy at the University of Newcastle, who has endorsed both drugs as effective treatments.

In an interview with 6PR last Wednesday, Professor Clancy said he did not agree with all of Mr Kelly’s views but the use of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin was clearly effective.

The University of Newcastle has sought to distance itself from Professor Clancy, with vice-chancellor Alex Zelinsky saying: “While the university respects freedom of speech, Robert Clancy is not speaking on behalf of the University of Newcastle when offering his opinion on this issue.”