Extract from ABC News
Shadow Minister for Education Tanya Plibersek has criticised the Prime Minister for not publicly refuting misleading comments about COVID made by Palmer United Party leader Craig Kelly and Nationals MP George Christensen.
Key points:
- Tanya Plibersek said no-one should be above the rules when it comes to corruption investigations
- She also called for the PM to do more about MPs spreading COVID misinformation
- Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said the TGA was still investigating Craig Kelly's texts
Mr Kelly, who was elected as MP for the southern Sydney seat of Hughes as a Liberal candidate, is currently being investigated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for sending what it has said are "seriously misleading" texts about COVID-19.
Appearing on Q+A, Ms Plibersek was answering a question from viewer Kleo Cruse, who asked how Australians could prevent COVID-19 misinformation from entering the public sphere.
Ms Plibersek said it was a point of frustration for her.
"It just drives me crazy," she said.
"I've not yet heard our Prime Minister say [to] Craig Kelly, George Christensen that they are wrong when they say that vaccines don't matter, masks don't help, the lockdowns aren't doing any good."
Communications Minister Paul Fletcher deflected the criticism, saying Health Minister Greg Hunt had been giving "authoritative, reliable advice" to Australians.
"We are at 82 per cent first [vaccine] doses and [have] further to go, but a huge amount of effort has gone into providing accurate, fact-based information for Australians," he said.
Q+A host Stan Grant then asked Mr Fletcher where the investigation into Mr Kelly was at, with the Communications Minister saying it was progressing.
Mr Kelly had threatened to sue the TGA for its comments relating to him being investigated.
Mr Fletcher was then asked if he would be comfortable with the Coalition taking preferences from the Palmer United Party again at the next federal election.
He responded by speaking about the way the preference system operated in Australia before Ms Plibersek again questioned why Scott Morrison had not publicly excoriated Mr Kelly or Mr Palmer.
"That $60, $70, $80 million that Clive Palmer spent in the last election was a really serious impact on the result," she said.
"He is now every day saying that lockdowns are wrong and mask wearing is wrong.
Mr Fletcher then accused Ms Plibersek of "negativism", before saying the federal government had "got on with delivering the vaccine rollout".
'Nobody is above the rules'
The role social media plays in misinformation was also discussed on the show, but the other major topic discussed was Gladys Berejiklian's resignation as NSW premier due to an Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) investigation.
Dominic Perrottet has been installed as the new Premier, and some constituents left flowers outside Ms Berejiklian's former office.
Questions were raised on Q+A about ICAC's powers, the timing of the investigation and Ms Berejiklian's subsequent resignation.
Journalist Marc Fennell said he felt the circumstances of her exit were worth questioning.
"Gladys resigned, Gladys chose to leave," Fennell said.
"The conversation around Gladys and ICAC is fascinating ... I think people outside of New South Wales are quite confused as to why there is so much love for her."
Ms Plibersek said because of the ICAC investigation there was no question that Ms Berejiklian's position had likely become untenable, despite her popularity.
"You can like and respect a person, but if they have done the wrong thing, it doesn't mean that they're above the rules," she said.
Asked if Labor would still introduce a federal corruption watchdog, Ms Plibersek said it would, but she was unsure of the details and whether someone being investigated by the body would have to step aside.
"I think it is way too early to speculate on things like that," she said.
"We want to see a strong integrity commission that does allow whistleblowers to make complaints and is able to investigate off its own bat."
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