“Domestic vaccine passports are a form of discrimination. Fact. We are all human beings;nobody should be restricted from everyday life because of their medical choices.”
Mr Albanese rejected those claims within minutes and later launched a speech to repudiate the Nationals MP,putting a motion that forced Mr Morrison and his ministers to decide whether to allow speeches on the subject.
After Mr Morrison consulted with Industry Minister Christian Porter,the leader in the House,they allowed the debate,an unusual move when the government often denies its opponents leave to speak on other motions.
Mr Albanese challenged the Prime Minister and his colleagues to reject the claims from their colleague given the concerns in the community about rising case numbers and deaths.
“I’m scared and Australians are scared of COVID – there is fear because they’re fearful of something that’s scary,” he said.
“This is having an impact. People are dying. People are getting sick. There are almost 30 people who are in hospital today on ventilators – kept alive on a machine.”
Mr Albanese argued the government had allowed Mr Christensen and others to spread disinformation for too long,linking this to a wider government failure to buy enough vaccines and keep infections down.
Labor backbencher Mike Freelander,a doctor who represents Macarthur in south-west Sydney,said it was time the Parliament rejected misinformation from Mr Christensenand others in the Coalition,naming Matt Canavan,Craig Kelly and Gerard Rennick.
Mr Kelly,whose electorate of Hughes includes suburbs with high infection rates in south-west Sydney,has criticised the use of masks and called for treatments such as ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine,but his comments have been at odds with health authorities.
Mr Freelander urged all members of the House to take their responsibility seriously to stop misinformation about the virus,such as Mr Christensen’s claim that masks do not work and lockdowns did not stop the virus.
“Imagine if you’re locked down in Sydney and you’re a tradesman,a manual worker and you’re hearing this message from a member of Parliament,” he said.
“Imagine what that does to your confidence in the medical advice you’re being given.
“Now just think about that. All of us in this place have a responsibility to keep people safe.”
Mr Morrison stood by his record on managing the pandemic by noting he had moved on January 20 last year to act against the virus,weeks before public action by the World Health Organisation declared a pandemic. He did not mention Mr Christensen.
“Australia together has saved lives and livelihoods. That is what we have done,and that is why my government doesn’t support misinformation in any shape or form,” he said.
“My government will not support those statements where there is misinformation that is out and about in the community,whether it is posted on Facebook,social media,written in articles or in statements.”
Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce was not in Parliament – he is in home isolation in Armidale – but said he did not agree with Mr Christensen. “Just because someone has a view,it doesn’t mean it’s my view,” he toldThe Conversation.
Nationals MP and former minister Darren Chester rejected Mr Christensen’s views,tweeting he did not agree with him,but others were careful not to criticise or even name their colleague.
Communications Minister Paul Fletcher was asked four times on ABC TV on Tuesday afternoon whether he disagreed with Mr Christensen but avoided giving a direct answer.