After the Australian Government announced plans to dock the benefits of parents who refuse to vaccinate their children, Dr Lance O'Sullivan says we should follow suit.

"We know that this will give their children better health outcomes and the population of New Zealand, so I would say yes, go for it," the former New Zealander of the Year said during an appearance on The Project.

"We have to be brave and courageous... when we know something is as protective as a vaccination, we have to be able to make a stand and say we need to do this to protect the children."

O'Sullivan said that the internet is the reason why many people misunderstand science, and that the schools that refuse to take part in immunisation programmes should be defunded.

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"When most people are shown the science and the absolute benefit of vaccination, most people come to a sensible conclusion. I think the problem is there's a lot of misinformation out there and a lot of uncertainty.

123RF The Australian Government has started wiping $15 a week off the tax benefits of parents for each unvaccinated kid they have.

"Schools are meant to be a site where we see leadership and sound decisions being made. If there's a decision where HPV vaccination isn't supported by a school, I'd say that should be reflected in what funding they get."

Under the Australian government's "No Jab, No Pay" programme, Family Tax Benefit Part A payments will be reduced fortnightly by A$28 (NZ$30) for each unvaccinated child the parent has.

"Immunisation is the safest way to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases," Minister for Social Services Dan Tehan said in a statement.

"Parents who don't immunise their children are putting their own kids at risk as well as the children of other people."

The government provided A$14 million towards free "catch-up" vaccinations in its 2017 budget.

Exemptions have been allowed for children assessed to have natural immunity or for whom vaccinations may prove harmful.