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Today's Paper | March 17, 2026

Published 23 Feb, 2021 08:14am

Australian MP who promoted pandemic conspiracies quits ruling party

An Australian lawmaker who frequently peddled pandemic misinformation quit the conservative government, weeks after being publicly dressed down by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Craig Kelly repeatedly used social media and the floor of parliament to question the safety of coronavirus vaccines, oppose lockdowns, and promote unproven Covid-19 treatments such as Malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and headlice medication ivermectin, according to AFP.

“I felt that for the rest of this parliamentary term, if I'm going to act and speak according to my conscience and my beliefs, that I can do so more effectively as an independent,” the Sydney MP told public broadcaster ABC.

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