Llew O’Brien doubles down on defence of rogue MP George Christensen

Mr O’Brien said he does not agree with Mr Christensen’s increasingly controversial statements on the Covid pandemic, but remained an ardent supporter of the Dawson MP remaining in parliament.

Llew O'Brien (top) speaks to Barnaby Joyce and George Christensen during Question Time in 2020. AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien has doubled down on his support of rogue Dawson MP George Christensen despite ongoing controversy surrounding his fellow National’s Covid-19 opinions.

Mr O’Brien previously signed a petition hosted by alt-right media platform The Good Sauce asking Mr Christensen to reconsider his decision not to contest the next election, which closed in July with 1,181 signatures.

Regardless of which side of politics you support, parliamentarians who speak up and don’t always toe the party line are...

Posted by Llew O'Brien MP on Sunday, July 11, 2021

Mr Christensen made the shock retirement announcement in April, revealing he would not stand at the next federal election due to family commitments, and confirmed his plans to step away in June.

Since then Mr Christensen has come under constant fire for his views on the Covid pandemic, with his own party failing to defend him in parliament earlier this month when Labor launched a motion against his “mad theories” asserting masks and lockdowns did not work.

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“It's time we stopped spreading fear and acknowledge some facts — masks do not work,” Mr Christensen said in parliament.

“Lockdowns don’t work, but they do destroy people’s livelihoods and people’s lives.”

Mr O’Brien said he did not agree with either of those statements, but remained an ardent supporter of Mr Christensen remaining in parliament.

“Generally I support freedom of speech and he certainly brings his point of view forward,” Mr O’Brien said.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA NewsWire Photos AUGUST 23, 2021: Rogue Mp George Christensen on another anti lockdown rant before Question Time in the House of Representatives in Parliament House Canberra.Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“I’m not one of these people who want to shut down or cancel anyone, but I support him as someone who certainly believes he is speaking up for the many thousands of people who publicly elected him in Dawson.”

Mr O’Brien pointed to previous instances in which he received support from Mr Christensen while pressing his own issues in parliament as evidence of the Dawson MP’s willingness to speak up.

“I think back to the banking royal commission and there were two people in the Lower House who had the guts to stand up to Malcolm Turnbull, the executive of government, and say I’m gonna cross the floor to bring this on because our constituents are suffering,” Mr O’Brien said.

“It was Llew O’Brien and George Christensen.

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“When I brought on the royal commission into veteran suicide, George was there at my side and willing to cross the floor with me.

“It’s easy to take selective quotes and ask ‘do you support this guy?’ But as a whole I do support George Christensen staying in parliament.”