George Christensen crowd-funding to cover federal parliament, despite being Mackay councillor

The former MP is seeking $99 donations to fund regular trips to Canberra and act as a journalist despite being a well-paid councillor.

After being asked about his whereabouts for the missed meeting, George Christensen posted a video to Facebook saying, "I'm in Mackay, mystery solved" hours before flying to Canberra from Mackay Airport.

George Christensen must have plenty of spare time as a councillor for Mackay, because he’s offering to travel to Canberra for every sitting of federal parliament — if you pay him $99.

The former-MP with a penchant for conspiracy theories runs a Substack page called ‘Nation First’ which was created in his attempt to have a media career post-politics.

On Nation First, Mr Christensen is running a campaign for $99 donations, claiming the money will be used to fly to Canberra and attend parliament, reporting back.

Aiming for 100 new subscribers, Mr Christensen claimed he already has 30 secured.

“I’ll only be able to afford travel and accommodation for a handful of parliamentary sessions — the big ones: Budget week, Senate Estimates, and when seriously dangerous legislation is being pushed through,” he said in an email to subscribers.

Mr Christensen called in remotely to multiple meetings in his first few months in Mackay council, a role in which he is paid $117,000 and his only legislated requirement is to attend meetings.

George Christensen has called in remotely, or missed other meetings while in Europe.

For one of the meetings, he was travelling in Europe and protesting the Olympics as part of another paid role.

Now Mr Christensen is telling his Nation First audience he wants to attend every session of federal parliament.

That would necessitate being out of Mackay for four more council meetings before the end of the year — meaning he would have not shown up in person for more than six since being sworn in.

“With 100 new annual subscribers, I can base myself in Canberra when federal parliament is in session,” Mr Christensen wrote.

“I’ll be your eyes and ears in the belly of the beast — asking the tough questions, exposing the backroom deals, and reporting on the things that actually matter to everyday Australians.”

When this masthead asked Mr Christensen why he would offer to be in Canberra while council is sitting in Mackay, he said he can “chew gum and walk at the same time”.

Screengrab of email from Nation First, a Substack page owned and run by Mackay councillor and former MP George Christensen, requesting $99 subscriptions for him to travel to and stay in Canberra. Picture: Supplied

This masthead asked Mr Christensen to clarify if that meant he would be there every sitting or attending council meetings remotely.
“I will be attending council meetings in person,” he said.

“My commitment to NationFirst.com.au (not that it’s any of the Weekly Mercury’s business) is to be on the ground when parliamentary sittings are happening to report what’s going on. I don’t need to be there for an entire two week sitting of parliament to do that.”

When asked if he didn’t see any conflict of interest between being paid to write about federal politics while working as a local councillor, Mr Christensen said it is declared on his register of interests.

“Let me be very clear: I fulfil my obligations as a Mackay Regional Councillor. I attend meetings. I attend briefings. I respond to residents. I push for local improvements. I push for measure to lower rates”, he said.

“Nothing I do with other work changes any of that.”

First meeting of the Mackay Regional Council in 2024, with newly elected councillor George Christensen speaking on April 11. Photo: Zoe Devenport

In the email to unpaid subscribers, Mr Christensen said there would be “no left-wing press gallery filter”, “no woke spin” and “just the truth — from inside the building”.

People seeking to report from inside Parliament House as journalists need to be approved by the Canberra Press Gallery, which specifies “a member may not represent the interests of, or provide communications advice to, political parties, governments, extra-legislative groups or commercial clients”.

Mr Christensen said he wouldn’t be applying for Press Gallery credentials.

Right at the bottom of the fundraising email, Mr Christensen makes clear:

“This publication is a private venture and is not associated with my role in local government.”

Originally published as George Christensen crowd-funding to cover federal parliament, despite being Mackay councillor