Mr Kelly,who holds the NSW seat of Hughes in southern Sydney,has been an increasingly controversial figure during the coronavirus pandemic through his promotion of disproven treatments for the virus through his social media.
He was last weekbanned from posting on Facebook for one week after he violated the tech giant’s COVID-19 misinformation policy.
Mr Morrison told reporters he learned of Mr Kelly’s decision “at the same time he announced it to the party room”.
The Prime Minister said he had set out some “very clear standards” a fortnight ago following Mr Kelly’s public clash withLabor MP Tanya Plibersek over treatments for COVID-19.
“He no longer felt that he could meet those commitments,but I can tell you,my standards don’t change,” Mr Morrison said.
“He’s made his decision today and by his own explanation,he has said that his actions were slowing the government down and he believed the best way for him to proceed was to remove himself from the party room.”
In a letter to Mr Morrison,seen by this masthead,Mr Kelly said had resigned with the “heaviest of hearts” and said he hoped Mr Morrison would go on to be “one of Australia’s greatest and longest-serving prime ministers”.