Health Minister calls Facebook's blocking of health sites a 'disgrace'

Health Minister Greg Hunt said he was "profoundly shocked" that Facebook had taken down health sites as part of their wide-reaching ban on Australian news.

"We understand that ACT health, Queensland Health, South Australia Health, Dementia Australia, the Kids Cancer Project and Bowel Cancer Australia have all been affected," Mr Hunt said.

"The fact that the Kids Cancer Project could be affected, is, frankly a disgrace.

"Facebook should fix it and they should address that immediately."

READ MORE: Health departments, emergency services blocked under Facebook ban

Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt and Secretary of the Department of Health Professor Brendan Murphy.

Australians have been urged to seek their health and coronavirus information from reliable sources following Facebook's ban on news sites across Australia.

Victorian officials this morning implored Facebook to allow the dissemination of crucial health information amid the coronavirus pandemic and Victoria's recent outbreak.

"I would implore all social media organisations: getting health information to all people is vitally important," Victorian testing commander Jeroen Weimar said.

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Mr Weimar said timely communication would prove particularly crucial as the COVID-19 vaccination program got underway.

Health service providers including Queensland Health, South Australia Health, the Victorian Council of Social Services and Victorian Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien are among the non-news media organisations caught up in the ban.

Health Minister Martin Foley echoed Mr Weimar's sentiments.

"Every step should be immediately taken to reinstate those crucial health services," Mr Foley said.

"Anything that removes credible and reliable information in the midst of a pandemic needs to be immediately addressed.

"I would urge Minister Fletcher at the federal level to quickly fix this matter."

EXPLAINED: Facebook has banned Australia's access to news, here's what it means for you



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