Barnaby Joyce has exploded at critics of Covid-19 conspiracy theorist George Christensen, suggesting calls to remove the rogue MP from parliament amount to a crime.
The deputy prime minister confirmed he had spoken to Mr Christensen about his calls for parents not to vaccinate their children – but refused to provide any detail of their conversation.
“I don't intend to go on a tirade about Mr Christensen because it serves no purpose,” he said.
“The only thing that serves a purpose, talk one-on-one. Because otherwise, you're pumping up your own balloon, and maybe not even helping the issue.”
Mr Joyce faced a grilling from reporters in Brisbane, who continued to press the Nationals leader about his rogue colleague.
It led to a bizarre exchange where Mr Joyce suggested those calling for Mr Christensen to be removed from parliament could be committing a crime.
“As soon as what you say starts amounting to a threat of removal from office you‘re in dangerous territory,” he said.
“If you made a direct threat about removing them from office, that’s a crime. You can’t do it.”
Speaking at a press conference in Canberra, Prime Minister Scott Morrison also refused to boot Mr Christensen from the coalition.
Despite condemning the “wise and dangerous” anti-vaccine conspiracy theories being spread, Mr Morrison insisted Australia was a “free country”.
“You can’t go around locking people up for what they say as Australians,” Mr Morrison said.
“He is allowed to speak his mind but Australians should not be listening to him.
“The more important thing to do is to say his views are not the government’s views. They have in no way, whatsoever, influenced government policy at all.
“I can only encourage those two simply ignore him.”
Mr Morrison confirmed he was reconsidering Mr Christensen’s role on a parliamentary committee, for which he gets paid extra, on top of his already generous salary.
Mr Christensen has already confirmed he will not contest the next election.
The Prime Minister has been under pressure to pull his backbenchers into line after a small but vocal group spread Covid-19 vaccine misinformation.
Australian Medical Association vice president Dr Chris Moy called on Mr Morrison to reign in the “nutty” behaviour of Mr Christensen and other colleagues.
“It is frustrating that this sort of nutty stuff which is essentially converted into some sort of cause to raise popularity really has a foothold,” he told the ABC.
“It’s driven by a particular type of advocate – unfortunately we are seeing some of them within the government.
“They really do need to shut up because they are not helping what we need to do and it is causing increasing anxiety. What they are saying is rubbish.”
“It has got to end. It has gone too far and unfortunately it will be looked back on as something that has undermined our ability to do the right thing and maintain confidence in key aspects of things such as the vaccination program.”
Chief Medical Office Paul Kelly urged Australians to listen to the advice of medical professionals.
“I don’t have a message for MPs. I have a message for the people of Australia and the parents of Australia,” he told ABC Radio.
“You should have the highest confidence in our system to provide safe, effective and high-quality vaccines for your children.”
Mr Morrison has faced accusations of double standards over anti-vaxxers within his ranks following the deportation of Novak Djokovic.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke cancelled the Serbian tennis star’s visa because he considered his presence in the country a health risk that could foster anti-vaccination sentiment.
