Shocked Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison has averred that he had no prior warning of Liberal MP Craig Kelly’s decision to quit the Coalition government’s ranks and immediately move to the crossbench as an independent.
In a recent development, Kelly stunned colleagues in the Coalition party room when he revealed that he would still support the government on matters of supply and confidence but he needed to “stay true” to what he believes in and to himself.
Reports have it that Kelly, who holds the NSW seat of Hughes in southern Sydney, has been an increasingly controversial figure during the coronavirus pandemic through his promotion of disproven treatments for the virus through his social media.
It would be recalled that he was recently banned from posting on Facebook for one week after he violated the tech giant’s COVID-19 misinformation policy.
The surprised PM told reporters he learned of Kelly’s decision “at the same time he announced it to the party room”.
In his words, Morrison averred that he had set out some “very clear standards” recently following Kelly’s public clash with Labor MP Tanya Plibersek over treatments for COVID-19.
“He no longer felt that he could meet those commitments, but I can tell you, my standards don’t change,” the PM said.
“He’s made his decision today and by his own explanation, he has said that his actions were slowing the government down and he believed the best way for him to proceed was to remove himself from the party room.”
Kelly, in a letter to the PM, said he had resigned with the “heaviest of hearts” adding that he hoped Morrison would go on to be “one of Australia’s greatest and longest-serving prime ministers”.
Analysts are of the view that Kelly’s move to the crossbench has the potential to embolden rebel Nationals MPs who are seeking amendments to an energy bill, which would expand the Clean Energy Finance Corporation’s remit to coal, nuclear and carbon capture and storage.
Local reports have it that he had been under pressure from Liberals not to cross the floor. As of his resignation, there are 61 Liberals, 16 Nationals, 68 Labor MPs, one Green, one Katter’s Australia Party MP, one Centre Alliance MP and four independents, including Mr Kelly, reports say.
