Health experts say government MPs spreading coronavirus misinformation are a 'threat to public health'

Public health experts have warned misinformation spread by government MPs, and not called out by ministers, constitutes a threat to Australia’s successful fight against coronavirus and vaccine rollout.

Liberal member for Hughes Craig Kelly during Question Time in the House of Representatives. Source: AAP

The spreading of coronavirus misinformation by government MPs is a threat to public health and should be called out by senior officials, health experts say. 

Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Health Minister Greg Hunt on Tuesday refused to criticise Liberal MP Craig Kelly after he posted the results of a study that said forcing children to wear face masks was akin to "child abuse" on Facebook. 

The German study, which has not been peer-reviewed, examined the impact of mask-wearing for children and allegedly found many suffered headaches and impaired learning. 

Health experts have said that, if the spread of misinformation was left unchecked, it would undermine crucial trust in Australian public health officials and could hamper efforts to smother the virus.