Liberal MP Craig Kelly has revealed that Facebook has blocked him for a week after posting links to three unsubstantiated and unproven comments by medical professionals on Covid-19.
Although Scott Morrison publicly distanced himself from Kelly, Hughes member continued to defy conventional medical wisdom by posting social media by quoting the opinions of contrarian experts.
Kelly said that Facebook had deleted three posts and banned him for one week, citing an alleged breach of its community standards.
Kelly’s Statement
“I strongly object to the ban, there are absolutely no grounds whatsoever,” Kelly told Guardian Australia.
“The points are a legitimate point of view. I’m not posting my opinions, I’m posting the opinions of medical experts.”
The three posts related to: unproven claims about hydroxychloroquine by professorDolores Cahill;aprofile of professor Thomas Borody in the Spectator which includes advocacy of ivermectin to treat coronavirus; and claims by pathologist Roger Hodkinson that masks are “useless” for children and “paper and fabric masks are simply virtue signalling”.
Kelly said “whether [the views are] right or wrong is a matter of debate, but their views should be debated”.
Why Was His Account Banned?
A Facebook spokesman said: “We do not allow anyone to share false information about Covid-19 which could lead to serious injuries.
“We have clear policies against this type of content and will remove it as soon as we know of it.”
Kelly’s dispute with Facebook has already led to the use of labels to warn of his posts and the removal of posts that describe making children wear a mask as child abuse.
In January, medical officer Paul Kelly said there was “no evidence” of the anti-parasite drug vermectin which is effective against Covid-19. Highly respected international research has found that hydroxychloroquine does not act as a therapeutic agent, and it can have serious and lethal effects if misused.
‘Very Disappointing’
Earlier in February, Morrison told parliament Craig Kelly’s advocacy for unproven Covid therapies did not “align with my views, or the views and the advice that has been provided to me by the chief medical officer”.
Morrison has made two private attempts to pull Parliament backbench on the line, one beaten by Kelly saying he may not have the Covid vaccine.
Morrison made two private attempts to pull the backbench MP into line, one prompted by Kelly saying he may not have the Covid vaccine.
“There’s nothing that I can see [in my posts] that is contrary to that policy.”
Kelly said Facebook’s troubles were “very disappointing”.
“I have great concerns about censorship – community standards should not stop us from listening to opinions of highly experienced medical professionals.”
The National Covid-19 Evidence Institute states that vermectin and hydroxychloroquine are both “not recommended” to treat Covid-19 without clinical trials.
It said more tests of ivermectin are needed for specialized people, including children and adolescents, pregnant and lactating women, elderly people living with frailties and those receiving palliative care.
