LNP senator Gerard Rennick slams Prime Minister as ‘pathetic’

There are calls for Gerard Rennick to be booted from the LNP after the rogue Queensland senator labelled Scott Morrison “pathetic” for his rebuke of fellow anti-vaxxer George Christensen.

Rogue Queensland LNP Senator Gerard Rennick has labelled the Prime Minister “pathetic”, with the staggering remark prompting calls for him to be booted from the party.

The controversial Senator had gained prominence in recent months for espousing Covid-19 vaccine scepticism and opposition to jab mandates, going so far as to refuse to co-operate with his own government in a bid to get his way.

Senator Rennick, in a post defending fellow vaccine sceptic MP George Christensen, slammed the Prime Minister for bowing to media pressure before labelling him “pathetic”.

Mr Christensen, in promoting an episode of his podcast this week, said parents shouldn’t get their children vaccinated against Covid-19 — comments Scott Morrison labelled “dangerous”.

“And what does the Prime Minister do when pressured by the media about (Mr Christensen’s) valid remarks. He caves in like he always does. Pathetic,” Senator Rennick wrote.

Senator Gerard Rennick said George Christensen was raising valid concerns over the vaccination of children. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

High-ranking LNP sources, who had as early as this week defended Senator Rennick’s right to speak freely despite disagreeing with his anti-vaccine views, said their Queensland colleague had crossed the line.

One source said the party should move to disendorse him, signalling it was untenable to have a Coalition parliamentarian actively working against the party so close to an election.

An LNP MP told the Courier-Mail Senator Rennick was viewed “as a joke” by some colleagues who were growing increasingly frustrated at his willingness to work against the party.

But the Prime Minister, asked if Senator Rennick would face repercussions, said he was “not fussed” about the remark.

“I don’t propose to do anything about it. I’m not that fussed about it,” he said.

A spokesman for the LNP said the party did not support or agree with the Senator’s views on Covid-19 vaccines.

He said the party encouraged “discussion and debate” but expected everyone to be “respectful in their conduct”.

Senator Rennick stood by his comments, saying “a lot of people in the party” agreed with his views and that he was standing up for party values.

He also pointed to material from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation and the World Health Organisation that he claimed backed up his and Mr Christensen’s claims.

ATAGI, in approving the Pfizer vaccine for children aged five to 11, stated clinical trials had shown it was “highly effective and that most side effects are mild and transient”.

ATAGI, in its decision, also factored in “the direct benefits of vaccination for the child in preventing illness” and “indirect benefits of vaccination for the child, their family and for the broader community” — namely in reduced transmission.