George Christensen calls in absent night before Mackay council meeting
After resigning from his only other commitment as a Mackay councillor, controversial ex-MP George Christensen was overseas for his third “base level” monthly council meeting, missing the meeting apparently because of a poor internet connection in Spain’s capital.
Mackay
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For the third time since joining the council in March, George Christensen was overseas for the monthly meeting, this time failing to appear, apparently because of inadequate internet coverage in Spain.
Mayor Greg Williamson confirmed Mr Christensen was “overseas somewhere” after the council passed a vote approving a leave of absence for the September 25 ordinary meeting.
Having previously flagged he intended to dial into the meeting via Zoom, Mr Christensen contacted Mr Williamson late on September 24 to let him know he was experiencing internet difficulties.
“Where he is doesn’t have reliable internet access to zoom in,” Mr Williamson told the meeting.
After the Daily Mercury sent questions to Mr Christensen asking his whereabouts and why he was unable to find reliable internet for a council meeting scheduled months in advance, he posted to his council Facebook page writing he was in Madrid.
“For the past few days I’ve been in Madrid attending a three-day intensive seminar which is not council related but is about being impressive, inspirational in changing public policy,” Mr Christensen wrote.
“During this time, I’ve been in contact with locals, councillors and the CEO of Mackay Regional Council regarding council matters (by phone and email).
“While I did intend to video call into the council meeting today, the reality is that internet here was patchy and as such I sought leave from the mayor for the meeting today.”
According to the EU Commission sponsored European 5G observatory, which examines mobile network speeds and reliability, Madrid is ranked the seventh best city in Europe, two spaces above London, where Mr Christensen had previously virtually attended council meetings.
Mr Christensen then wrote in his opinion all the matters discussed in council were “non-controversial” and he was in agreement with all the officer's recommendations.
This latest trip to Madrid comes after he travelled to London earlier in the year, as well as Paris and Geneva where he publicly protested the Olympic Games and World Health Organisation.
He undertook these activities as part of his work with Citizen GO, an ultraconservative advocacy group based in Madrid which campaigns against abortion, same sex marriage laws and LGBT+ events.
Since joining Citizen GO Mr Christensen has launched petitions against a Disneyland LGBTQ+ event and petitioned against UN reports targeting harmful religious practices in which he wrote a banning of conversion therapies could “limit the freedom of priests to help homosexuals seeking assistance”.
Mayor Williamson said Mr Christensen’s only obligation was to attend meetings.
“Council does not employ an elected member,” Mr Williamson said.
“An elected member is elected by the public and has a duty to fulfil being at council meetings.
“That’s the base level duty.”
Mr Williamson added councillors were allowed to Zoom in provided they gave adequate notice prior.
He said he had not received any further notice from Mr Christensen to attend future meetings by Zoom.
This absence comes a month after Mr Christensen resigned his role on the regional infrastructure committee, despite not attending any related meetings, before travelling to Canberra to meet with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.
The receptionist who answers his number listed for constituents offered to set up a face-to-face appointment.
Mr Christensen has yet to respond to any media requests or any questions put to him by this publication, including if he believes he is best representing the Mackay region while working on non-council related activities overseas.
He wrote on Facebook he would be travelling back to Australia on Thursday.
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