George Christensen compensation ploy thwarted

LNP officials block George Christensen’s bid for a six-figure taxpayer-funded payout over his decision to quit politics.

George Christensen. Picture: Heidi Petith

Queensland’s top Liberal National Party officials have blocked George Christensen’s bid for a six-figure taxpayer-funded payout over his decision to quit politics.

The controversial federal MP had nominated to recontest the north Queensland seat of Dawson, and been cleared by the LNP vetting committee to run, but changed his mind this year and announced his retirement.

But last month it emerged that his federal LNP branch, at Mr Christensen’s instruction, had requested that LNP headquarters overturn its original approval and formally reject his nomination to stand at the next election.

A decision to disendorse him would have enabled Mr Christensen to become eligible for a taxpayer-funded payment of $105,600, or six months’ salary, as a “resettlement allowance”.

Under parliament rules, a politician who “retires involuntarily” from parliament — including through loss of party endorsement or for reasons other than misconduct — may be eligible for the one-off handout.

Senior LNP insiders last month told The Australian of the branch request for Mr Christensen to be disendorsed, fearing senior LNP officials were going to approve it. The matter had been raised briefly at a meeting of the state executive, the LNP’s governing body, but party acting president Cynthia Hardy then shut down debate over the request.

A spokesman for the LNP would not comment on what decision had been made, and Mr Christensen – a four- term MP – has repeatedly failed to respond to questions about the branch request for him to be disendorsed.

A senior LNP insider on Sunday said the LNP has since informed Mr Christensen it would not bow to the request and there was no reason to overturn the vetting committee’s original decision. “There was a lot of anger within the ranks of the LNP because there was a genuine suspicion that the powers were going to give him what he wanted,’’ the LNP source said.

“They feared George was going to make trouble during budget week, and that he might cross the floor and vote against the government … there was only one decision to make, the right one, and block it and ensure the bureaucrats in Canberra saw what was on the table.’’

The LNP’s vetting committee is now scrutinising candidates who have nominated for the Brisbane seat of Bowman, held by federal Liberal MP Andrew Laming, who announced this year he won’t contest the next federal election.

The veteran backbencher announced he was quitting politics after a string of allegations of online harassment and bullying against women were levelled against him.