Scott Morrison blames Labor for ‘grubby’ smear campaign on MP George Christensen

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has blamed Labor for the “grubby” smear campaign directed at Queensland MP George Christensen.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has blamed Labor for the “grubby” smear campaign directed at Queensland MP George Christensen.

The prime minister said it was “unfortunate” there were people willing to “kick this along for political purposes”.

Dawson MP George Christensen and his fiancee April Asuncion.

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The Daily Telegraph revealed on Friday that a government MP had made frequent trips to seedy parts of South-East Asia prompting interest from the Australian Federal Police.

Mr Christensen outed himself as the MP but hit back by insisting any trips he made to Asia were to meet with his fiancee and her family and also for philanthropic purposes.

“All the innuendo is false,” he said. “This whole matter is vile and defamatory.”

Mr Morrison refused to reveal what he knew about the AFP inquiries.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison backs Mr Christensen at a press conference on Sunday. Picture: AAP

“I don’t go into what I know and don’t know about AFP investigations,” he said.

“I think George made it pretty clear about what the nature of those events were. His explanation is clear and it speaks for itself.”

“And I think it’s disappointing that even as recently as yesterday the Labor Party seemed to be wanting to kick it along. I thought it was grubby.”

Mr Christensen also said the “smear campaign” has also been spread by a former senior government MP and one of his senior ex-staff members but he refused to name them.