Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been forced to reprimand rogue backbencher George Christensen over his latest anti-vaccination opinion, labelling the comments as "dangerous".
Mr Christensen — who is retiring as the Coalition MP for the North Queensland seat of Dawson at the next election — urged his social media followers not to vaccinate their children.
The comments were made while he spruiked the latest episode of his podcast, which included an interview with a controversial virologist who claims to have invented mRNA vaccine technology but who has been banned from Twitter for spreading COVID-19 misinformation.
"I strongly disagree with the message sent out by Mr Christensen regarding children's vaccinations," Mr Morrison said in a statement.
"It is contrary to the official professional medical advice provided to the government, and I urge parents to disregard his dangerous messages in relation to vaccines."
The Prime Minister has been under increasing pressure to pull some of his MPs into line over their views on vaccinations and other COVID-19 measures.
His government has been accused of hypocrisy for its hard line on tennis star Novak Djokovic's case — arguing the world's number one men's tennis player could be a poster boy for anti-vaccination sentiment in Australia — while allowing some of its backbenchers to freely share their views.
Mr Morrison said vaccination was the nation's "primary weapon" against COVID-19.
"More than 90 per cent of Australians aged over 16 [years] are fully vaccinated," he said.
"If you are not vaccinated against the virus, you are more likely to experience severe illness and die. Getting vaccinated saves lives.
"This is the clear advice to all Australians, who are eligible to have a vaccine, from Australia's Chief Medical Officer."
The Prime Minister said suitably reduced doses of the Pfizer vaccine had been approved for use in children aged between 5 and 11 years by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
"These are the same medical experts who approve all other vaccines for children in Australia," Mr Morrison said.
"They are the world's best medical regulators.
"These are the experts [who] have the knowledge, accountability and experience to provide the credible and reliable advice that parents need to make important decisions about their child's best interests."
Mr Christensen joked about censorship, as he posted the comment.
"The latest podcast episode is, again, too hot to post to Facebook. I can't even show you the title but I can tell you every parent should listen to it."
It is not the first time Mr Christensen has been widely criticised for his views.
Late last year, he likened state and territory COVID-19 restrictions to the totalitarian regimes of Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia.
He laughed during an interview with a far-right-wing conspiracy theorist, as Australian quarantine facilities were likened to the Auschwitz concentration camp.
Mr Christensen is a member of the Nationals, and the party's leader, Barnaby Joyce, has voiced a reluctance to criticise the Member for Dawson too harshly for his views, simply saying he does not share them.
Last week, Mr Joyce defended Mr Christensen's right to spread COVID-19 conspiracy theories.
"George has a right, as everyone has, to express his views," Mr Joyce said during a visit to Mackay.
Deputy Nationals leader David Littleproud labelled the latest post as "irresponsible and inappropriate".
Earlier on Tuesday, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said that anti-vaccination sentiment in Australia was not shared widely — but did not mention Mr Christensen by name.
"Frankly, the anti-vaxxers aren't just losing the debate, they've lost the debate, " Mr Hunt said.
"We're at a 95 per cent national, 16-plus vaccination rate."
Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Paul Kelly, urged parents to listen to the nation's top doctors.
"We are of one voice — it is very important for children, down to the age of five, to be vaccinated. So, please go ahead with that and listen to the experts," he said.
