A STORM is brewing over controversial anti-vaccination campaigner Meryl Dorey being given a platform at the Queensland Government-sponsored Woodford Folk Festival.

Chrys Stevenson, a member of the Australian Skeptics, said she was opposed to Ms Dorey being included on the Woodford program, given it was supported by the taxpayer.

Ms Dorey is the Australian Vaccination Network president.

The NSW Health Care and Complaints Commission last year ruled that information on the AVN's website was misleading and inaccurate. Ms Stevenson, who lives at Mapleton in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, said she was concerned that Ms Dorey, who will speak about vaccination, autism and toxicity, was putting babies' lives at risk by preaching misinformation.

Despite the controversy, Queensland Arts Minister Rachel Nolan, whose department is sponsoring the festival, said it supported jobs and tourism.

"The Government, and I, as Arts Minister, are not going to be some kind of moral censor," she said. "Who is contracted for the event is a matter for the festival.

"The Government's position has not changed. We support the vaccination of all Queenslanders."

Ms Dorey said security guards would be on hand for her appearances at the festival on December 29 and 30.

She accused the Australian Skeptics and a Facebook group, dubbed Stop the AVN, for being behind a campaign to have her pulled from the festival.

"They've been attacking us for over two and a half years now. Those attacks have included death threats," Ms Dorey said.

"Every time I go to a seminar anywhere, the Stop the AVN try to get the venue to cancel.

"I find it quite disturbing that there isn't an outcry. People are not considering the implications of allowing someone to interfere with the discussion of a political issue. Freedom of communication is guaranteed in Australia."

Public health academic Jon Wardle, of the University of Queensland, said although he disagreed with Ms Dorey's vaccination message, she should be allowed to present her views at public forums.

Dr Wardle said he believed criticism by the pro-vaccination lobby of Ms Dorey's festival appearances had been counter-productive.

Australian Medical Association Queensland president Richard Kidd said he respected freedom of speech but called on Woodford organisers to ensure all sides of the vaccination debate were presented.

Originally published as Anti-vaccine activist needles opponents