Labor seizing on Christensen’s shock retirement

Smelling blood in the water with three LNP MPs now not recontesting the next election, Labour is seizing on George Christensen’s shock retirement to redraft its Queensland fightback.

Labour is seizing on George Christensen’s shock retirement to redraft its Queensland fightback plans, smelling blood in the water with three LNP MPs now not recontesting the next election.

It had left Mr Christensen’s seat of Dawson off its target list for the next poll, with the MP’s local popularity leaving the seat out of reach. The Coalition has a slim margin of one seat in parliament.

His shock retirement sparked a flurry of activity in Labor circles, with belief that without his personal vote the seat was within reach if regional voters could be convinced the party’s policies would not hurt mining jobs.

Party sources said there were renewed efforts to find a strong, community based candidate who could give the ALP a good shot. But Labor is being realistic about its prospects, with the LNP holding a 14.7 per cent margin in Dawson.

It followed an 11 per cent swing to the government with preferences, though Mr Christensen’s primary vote shifted less than 0.5 per cent.

Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen has announced he’ll retire at the next election. Picture: Matt Taylor

Ken O’Dowd is also stepping down in Flynn, while Andrew Laming was ordered not to recontest after a series of scandals. None of the seats are marginal, but have inflated margins after preference flows in 2019 went strongly against Labor.

Labor strategists said Queensland would remain a tough electoral battle.

While its research shows it has been making up ground in the state since Opposition leader Anthony Albanese pivoted on his position on coal, party insiders say there is still a way to go.

Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch reversed his decision to retire, while high-profile Queensland minister Peter Dutton dispelled rumours he would not contest the election last month by confirming he will seek an eighth term.

The Leader of the Australian Labor Party Anthony Albanese. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Matray

Mr Christensen announced he would not contest the next election on Thursday night, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.

His Filipina wife April Asuncion and daughter Margaret had been “caught up overseas” due to pandemic border closures.

“They’re here in the country now so I want to focus more on them going into the future,” he told The Courier-Mail.

LNP Senator Matt Canavan described Mr Christensen as a “warrior and an achiever” who sacrificed promotions to “stand true to his belief and values”.

Labor Senator Nita Green said: “He says politics is broken – but all he’s left is broken promises.”

Mr Christensen has been a controversial figure in politics, including for travel expenses when an audit found he had charged taxpayers for 14 domestic flights linked to his personal overseas travel, but that only one breached rules.