Former MP George Christensen reveals One Nation candidacy after quitting politics

A maverick LNP politician who said he would retire at the next Federal Election has dropped a bombshell on the government, and it could net him $100,000.

Maverick Queensland MP George Christensen will score a $100,0000 payday for running as a One Nation senate candidate.

But he rejected claims that he is only running to secure the “resettlement” allowance for MPs who are booted out of office, insisting he was already getting it anyway.

Mr Christensen has defected to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party overnight, in a shock turnaround from an earlier declaration he would quit politics, and is running in an unwinnable spot on the ticket where he is ranked third.

But he will be a winner even if he loses, because by running and losing as a sitting MP he is eligible for a “resettlement allowance” of six months pay or $100,000.

There were previous reports the Queensland Nationals MP was angling for the payout before he quit the LNP.

The four-term Nationals MP cited family reasons for his decision to resign, but then failed to withdraw his nomination, raising speculation that he was angling for a payout by forcing the Liberals to dump him.

If he was disendorsed by the party, he is eligible for a taxpayer-funded pay­ment of $105,600, or six-months’ salary, as a “resettlement allowance”.

George Christensen has announced he will run as a candidate for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation at the 2022 Federal Election (pictured in parliament together in 2016). Picture Gary Ramage

Mr Christensen could net $100,000 as a result of his candidacy if he fails to get a seat in Parliament. Photo : Daryl Wright

But Mr Christensen told The Courier Mail today he was already getting the cash – despite reports it had been denied to him.

“I’ve already had conversations with the clerk of the parliament and it’s highly likely given there is a recorded motion from the Dawson federal divisional council of the LNP to not proceed with my nomination that I would be entitled to that anyway, so this is happening regardless of that issue,” Mr Christensen said.

News.com.au has contacted the Clerk of the House of Representatives for comment.

Mr Christensen — once dubbed the “Member for Manila” after taking at least 28 trips to the Philippines between 2014 and 2018 — said he was thrilled to be joining One Nation’s team.

Mr Christensen told The ­Courier Mail earlier he should have joined One Nation “a long time ago”.

“The more I queried One Nat­ion’s policies and looked at their constitution, their core beliefs, the things that Pauline has been campaigning on recently, just about everything aligned with my views,” he said.

“Bizarrely, the question really didn’t float into my mind as to ‘why am I doing this’, the question that floated into my mind was, ‘why hadn’t I done this a long time ago?’”

Mr Christensen only resigned from the LNP last week, blaming his last minute call on vaccine mandates and climate change.

George Christensen was set to retire at the 2022 Federal Election, and the government did not have advance warning of his future plans. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Senator Hanson revealed she had been pursuing Mr Christensen since late last year.

“I know it’s a sacrifice to him and his family … but I’m not going to apologise because I want good people standing beside me that are going to deliver for the ­Australian people,” she said.

Mr Christensen remains popular in the seat of Dawson, which he has held since 2010.

At the last election he secured a massive swing despite Labor targeting his overseas travel.