Seventh-day Adventist Influencer Barbara O’Neill Gives Health Advice Despite Lifetime Ban in Australia

Seventh-day Adventist online influencer Barbara O’Neill made a public appearance in Brisbane on July 8, participating in the launch of a new charity event. This event drew a sold-out crowd of 800 people and marked a significant moment for O’Neill, who has faced legal restrictions on providing health advice. The event, hosted at Hillstone St Lucia, was organized by the Future Solutions Foundation, a charity run by her husband, Michael O’Neill, a former Senate candidate.

O’Neill, who identifies as a naturopath, has a global following estimated at 4.7 million by the Courier-Mail. She is known for her anti-vaccine stance and has made controversial health claims, including the assertion that cancer is a fungus treatable with baking soda and that raw goat’s milk can replace breast milk. These claims led to her being banned by the New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) in 2019. The commission found her statements to be “dubious and dangerous,” resulting in a lifetime ban from providing any health services, both online and in person.

The HCCC’s ban, though issued under NSW law, is recognized in several other Australian states, including Brisbane. Despite this, O’Neill attended the charity event and addressed the audience, mentioning her legal restrictions at the beginning of her speech. She proceeded to offer health advice, including the claim that cholesterol medication causes Alzheimer’s and that leaving grated potatoes on spinal cysts overnight could be beneficial. O’Neill described herself as “a little lady from the rainforest that didn’t want to give my kids drugs.”

The HCCC expressed awareness of the event and emphasized its stance on O’Neill’s actions. A spokeswoman for the commission stated that the prohibition order is based on the commission’s determination that O’Neill provides health advice beyond her training and experience, potentially misleading vulnerable individuals. The commission reiterated its commitment to addressing such matters seriously.

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