The two reasons why Labor heavyweight Bob Carr believes 'simpleton unvaccinated Australians who believe rubbish on the web' should be stripped of Medicare

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Former NSW Premier Bob Carr has again said anti-vaxxers should be stripped of Medicare reimbursements if they need treatment for Covid-19.

Last month Mr Carr sparked heated debate when he said Australia should follow Singapore and stop paying coronavirus medical bills for people unvaccinated by choice.  

Now he has doubled down, saying anti-vaxxers are 'simpletons who believe rubbish on the web'.

Mr Carr, who also served as foreign minister in the federal government, said he has two main reasons for holding his controversial views on unvaccinated people. 

Former NSW Premier Bob Carr (pictured left with his wife Helena), says anti-vaxxers should be stripped of Medicare reimbursements if they need treatment for Covid-19

The first is 'the overstressed frontline workers in our health system. They shouldn't have to look after simpletons who believe rubbish on the web, and ignore medical advice,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald.  

The second reason, Mr Carr said, is because of the  'Australians with manageable conditions like diabetes or asthma who may face a life-or-death crisis from contracting Covid. They have rights too'.

His initial comment in November was by a tweet that sparked anger and was slammed by Scott Morrison who said anti-vaxxers should not be demonised for making 'their own choices'.

Mr Carr then posted a follow-up tweet to explain his position in more detail, saying anti-vaxxers put others at risk.

'Here's the deal: For many this virus will be a death sentence. A pig-headed view that one has the perfect right to be unvaccinated without medical justification is a violation (potentially fatal) of the rights of others to life and health,' he wrote.

Mr Carr said anti-vaxxers, who are 20 times more likely to spread Covid, put others at risk

'This should be enforced as we enforce smoke-free work environments or no driving while drunk'. 

Unvaccinated people are roughly 20 times more likely to spread Covid than vaccinated people, according to University of Melbourne professors Christopher Baker and Andrew Robinson.

But Mr Morrison said Mr Carr's proposal was heavy handed, telling Channel Seven: 'We don't have a mandatory vaccine policy as a federal government. It's not something we've done, we respect people's choices.'

Mr Carr, in his latest interview, likened anti-vaccination views in Australia to the 'very dangerous' conspiracy theories circulating in the US. 

'America started climate change denialism. It was picked up from American think tanks funded by the carbon lobby and let loose here by right-wing Coalition politicians. 

'We've seen extremists adopting postures devised by gun-toting QAnon warriors with their animal head-dress, threatening the breezy freedoms of Aussie life,' he said.  

A total of 88.7 per cent of Australians over 16 are fully vaccinated and 94.7 per cent have had at least one dose. 

On Sunday, NSW recorded 485 new Covid-19 cases and two deaths as the caseload dips following two consecutive days of more than 500 infections.

The state had on Saturday recorded the highest number of cases since October 9, two days before lockdown lifted, and the second in a row with more than 500 cases.

In Victoria, there have been 1,069 new Covid infections and two virus-related deaths. This marks the seventh consecutive day Victoria has recorded more than 1,000 virus cases. 

Several states such as NSW and Victoria have mandated vaccines to enter retail and hospitality venues while others including WA require vaccinations for entry to the state.  

People participate in a protest against mandatory vaccination in Sydney on Saturday, November 27, 2021

Bob Carr wants 'stupid' people who refuse a Covid-19 vaccine to pay for their own medical care if they get sick from the disease

'We live in a country where we are not going to go around demonising those who want to make their own choices. It think that's very important. That's not how my government sees it,' Mr Morrison has said. 

'Of course we want people to get vaccinated but we are not going to take that heavy-handed approach which the Labor party always seems to like doing, whether it's Bob Carr or many of the others who have come down with those types of views.

'It's not our approach'.  

Mr Carr's original tweet on immediately sparked outrage and condemnation from Twitter users and prominent doctors, who baulked at the idea that Medicare would be suspended based on a medical or lifestyle choice.  

'Covid has had some bad takes, but this is right up there. Unbelievable,' wrote Greg Dore, a UNSW infectious diseases expert.

Others compared the idea to suspending funded care for cancer patients who smoked, diabetes patients who ate too much sugar or motorcyclists who suffered head injuries.  

La Trobe University mathematician Dr Joel Miller said the policy would only make Covid outbreaks worse.

'Predictable outcome: People who aren't vaccinated don't seek testing or treatment. Consequence: a higher proportion of cases becoming severe, and more transmission,' he wrote. 

Only a tiny number of commenters agreed with Mr Carr.  

'Yes. A Medicare levy for the unvaxxed. They should pay a bit more for their riskier lifestyle. There is one for not having private health cover, so why not,' wrote one.

Mr Carr was NSW premier from 1995 to 2005 and later served as foreign minister in Julian Gillard's federal government. 

The Tweet immediately sparked outrage and condemnation from Twitter users and prominent doctors

Only a tiny number of commenters agreed with Mr Carr's controversial opinion