George Christensen calls in remotely to multiple Mackay council meetings while travelling in Europe

Mackay councillor George Christensen has been travelling around Europe campaigning against the WHO and Olympics while taking a $117,000 salary from ratepayers. He’s now called in remotely for two consecutive council meetings.

George Christensen was in Geneva in May (photo on right) and London in July (photo on left). He has remotely called in to two consecutive council meetings in a row.

• Editor’s view: He’s taking the piss

Mackay councillor and former MP George Christensen has been travelling around Europe campaigning against vaccines and the Olympics while taking a $117,000 salary from ratepayers.

Previously dubbed the ‘Member for Manila’ after spending an inordinate amount of his time as a federal MP in the Philippines, he’s now called in remotely for two Mackay Regional Council meetings while promoting publications he takes money to write for.

That includes Spain-based CitizenGo, which employs Mr Christensen.

The hard-right Catholic advocacy group which has been protesting the Olympics is listed in his register of interests with council as a source of income.

His personal Facebook page lists him as the National Campaigns Director, Australia at CitizenGo.

George Christensen posted this photo of himself protesting a Pandemic Treaty by the WHO in Geneva, Switzerland on June 19, 2024 to his 'Nation First' substack page, and said he was there in May. Picture: George Christensen/Nation First

His public campaigns for CitizenGo include references to “Watching nude transgenders and drag queens desecrate something so holy as the Last Supper”, describing it as “abhorrent and sickening to watch”.

The opening ceremony was a reference to the Greek god Dionysus, according to the organisers.

Pictures of him in Europe date back to May. He attended the June council meeting, but he called in from London in July, and called in remotely again on August 7, with the Mackay mayor saying he had ‘no idea’ where he was.

In May, Mr Christensen travelled to Geneva to protest the World Health Organisation, posting it to his ‘Nation First’ substack page — which he also draws an income from, according to his register of interests.

George Christensen shared this post to his Nation First page on June 20, which notes he was in Geneva in May.

On May 26, he also claimed he would be ‘upping his game’ on Trump-owned Truth Social, GAB, Gettr and X.

Since June 1, he’s posted 32 times on his main Facebook page, 75 times on the ‘Nation First’ X (formerly Twitter) page and five times on his Facebook page reserved for councillor business.

After the Daily Mercury contacted Mr Christensen asking how he splits his time between his different social media platforms, and serves his constituents from overseas, there were additional posts made on his councillor page, which were also made to his main Facebook profile.

He has not responded to our questions, or returned calls from the number he has listed for his constituents.

An automated email response from his council email address includes the line: “Given the impersonal nature of email, if you’re a Mackay Regional resident seeking help with a council issue, then I will probably email you back to schedule a face-face meeting rather than going back and forth over the internet”.

George Christensen's Facebook page for councillor business, which had not had a new post since July 19, 2024. Screengrab taken on August 7, 2024. Mr Christensen shared an update on the new deputy mayor after this screengrab was taken, following questions put to him by the Daily Mercury. Picture: George Christensen/Facebook

When he has attended meetings in person, he has raised motions including proposing a banning of drag performances for under-18s on council property and for books to be removed from council libraries among pushing for the second stage of the Ring Road and asking for the Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro to be rejected.

In the interim, he’s being paid his $117,000 annual councillor salary.

Mr Christensen has remotely called into multiple council meetings with the approval of the CEO and mayor.

George Christensen posted this photo of himself next to the Doctor Who Tardis in London on July 26, 2024. Picture: George Christensen/Facebook

When asked about Mr Christensen’s whereabouts on Wednesday, Mayor Greg Williamson said he had “no idea” where his councillor is, but that he had been completing duties remotely.

“We don't require (to know) where they are, if they’re just home sick I don’t know, but I don’t know where Cr Christensen is,” Mr Williamson told journalists after the special meeting to elect Mackay’s new deputy mayor.

George Christensen shared this image on his Facebook page on January 16, 2024. Less than a month later, he was running for Mackay's local council. Picture: Facebook/George Christensen

“He wasn’t (physically) here in the last council meeting (on July 24) but he joined,” Mr Williamson said.

“He was in London so he joined at 2 o’clock in the morning in London to be part of our council meeting, and that’s what he’s required to do to be part of the council meeting or have leave of absence.”

When the mayor was asked when or if his absence would be a problem, he responded, “I can’t see any reason other than public perception for me to say you have to be physically at the meeting when our standing orders allow you to join via an electronic means”.

Mr Christensen has previously rejected the ‘Member for Manila’ nickname as a ‘vile smear’ and said he has a Filipina wife when explaining why he spent time as an MP overseas.

Originally published as George Christensen calls in remotely to multiple Mackay council meetings while travelling in Europe