Dear Mr President 

This letter is written further to the incident in the senate last week when Senator Andrew McLachlan was Acting Deputy President and undertook to report the incident to you and expected your further clarification on the wearing of masks in the senate. 

Following a request from Senator McKim I wore a mask in the senate chamber as a courtesy to Senator Steele-John, who Senator McKim said feels uncomfortable due to an immune condition. I did this as a courtesy to Senator Steele-John’s concerns, perceptions and feelings, and not on any scientific basis. 

I have written twice to the Queensland Premier and Health Minister asking for scientific proof of the effectiveness of masks. I have written to the ACT Chief Minister making the same request. None have provided evidence of the effectiveness of and need for masks. There is no randomised controlled trial study that demonstrates masks, especially the cloth masks that some senators wear, are effective in stopping transmission of COVID-19 virus. 

Until someone provides the necessary empirical scientific data as evidence to prove the basis for wearing masks, Senators and indeed all Australians should not be required to wear them. 

Wearing a mask can lead to headaches, discomfort and safety hazards and needlessly restricts breathing. 

I direct you to pages 52 and 53 (page 3 of attachment 5) of the attached copy of my letter to the Prime Minister and Queensland Premier and attachments thereto. 

Page 53 refers broadly to New Mexico Senator and physician Dr Greg Schmedes, who criticises America’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for its contradictory and sloppy note entitled “Science Brief: Community Use of Masks to Control the Spread of SARS-CoV-2”. The contradictions and absurdities abound within the CDC’s note. 

Adam Creighton is a data-driven, clear-thinking economist and writer, who presents key scientific conclusions about masks in his thorough article on Monday 14 February 2022. In The futility of mandatory masking now ripped bare (theaustralian.com.au) Creighton cites scientific authorities and practical, everyday examples as evidence for his clear conclusions. 

Despite the resounding lack of supportive scientific evidence and despite the availability of scientific studies not supporting the wearing of masks, they have been ordered in some nations and states/provinces. Masks have been used as a form of conditioning people to be fearful and obedient. Masks have been successfully used to ingrain fear and as such, have the hallmark of terrorism. 

Capricious, malicious and/or unscientific orders often lead to divisiveness, as seen in the abusive and disrespectful behaviour of Greens senators and of Senator Lambie, who personally abused Senator Rennick last Thursday in the Senate. Senator Rennick had no intention of harming anyone and did not harm anyone. The needlessly aggressive, emotionally driven comments directed to Senator Rennick from some Greens senators and from Senator Lambie in the chamber are disrespectful to a properly elected senator representing millions of Australians and seemed designed to intimidate rather than explain and justify those who disagreed with Senator Rennick. Such abuse is disrespectful to the people of Australia and confirm a lack of scientific data. 

This highlights and reinforces yet again the way unscientific and unfounded restrictions in the name of COVID-19, often politically driven, are divisive. 

Sadly, this is typical of many issues, debates, policies and decisions made in our parliament and that are not based on objective, reliable empirical scientific data. 

Basing positions, decisions, bills and laws on feelings not on solid scientific data, on unfounded opinions not data, on media headlines not data, on advocacy pursuing personal agenda not on data, all lead to needless conflict and wasted resources. Illogical decisions cause increased costs for which the people ultimately pay. Irrationality and/or dishonesty are no basis for making laws or advocating policy. 

Those who believe that masks provide protection, however minimal, can choose to wear masks and in so doing feel protected regardless of the choices other people make. 

I request that the implicit expectation to wear masks be removed, unless in your deliberations, you can find and provide solid scientific evidence of a mask’s effectiveness based on objective empirical data within a logical scientific framework proving cause-and-effect. 

For transparency I have copied in all Senators named in this letter. 

Yours sincerely 

Malcolm Roberts 

Senator for Queensland 

You can read more about our response to COVID in our dedicated COVID section, here.