David Koch slams MP Craig Kelly after quitting Liberal Party
Sunrise host David Kochie Koch confronted conspiracy theorist and politician, Craig Kelly, for his wild beliefs regarding COVID-19.
The MP made the rogue decision to quit the Liberal Party on Tuesday, and instead move to crossbench as an independent.
While on Sunrise, Kelly said he left the Coalition so he could “speak fearlessly and frankly about issues that concern me.”
The MP said these issues include advocating for head lice treatment to be prescribed to coronavirus patients, even though Australian health experts have regarded it as ineffective.
“I believe Australian doctors should be able, if they think it can help their patient, they should be able to prescribe that,” he said.
Kochie went on to ask: “Every chief medical officer says what you sprout is rot, it’s misleading and dangerous - why wouldn’t you take their advice?”
Kelly claimed he receives his health advice from “immunologists, professors and some of the highest qualified medical people from all around the world.”
The Sunrise host did not accept the claim though and accused Kelly of “confusing the public” by undermining the health advice provided by Australia’s political leaders and health experts.
“Our chief medical officers, every single one of them, federal and state, says that you’re wrong,” he said.
Kelly has been an increasingly controversial figure during the coronavirus pandemic.
Last week, he was banned from posting on Facebook for one week after he violated the coronavirus misinformation policy.
Kelly’s decision to leave from the Liberals means the Coalition has lost its one-seat majority.
Now there are 61 Liberals, 16 Nationals, 68 Labor MPs, one Green, one Katter’s Australia Party MP, one Centre Alliance MP and four independents.
Kelly maintains that he will “still be there supporting the government” from the crossbench and has “assured the Prime Minister” that will be the case.