Election 2022: George Christensen’s big payday for One Nation defection
Coalition MP George Christensen’s defection to One Nation now makes him eligible to pocket a taxpayer-funded payment of more than $105,000.
Former Coalition MP George Christensen’s defection to One Nation now makes him eligible to pocket a taxpayer-funded payment of more than $105,000.
Pauline Hanson on Wednesday announced that Mr Christensen, who last year announced his retirement from politics, would contest the May 21 federal election for One Nation as a Senate candidate in Queensland.
The MP, who last week quit the Liberal National Party, will stand for the unwinnable No 3 position on One Nation’s Senate ticket, led by Ms Hanson.
The defection has been criticised by his former colleagues, including close friend senator Matt Canavan and Nationals party heavyweight Ron Boswell.
It is almost certain Mr Christensen will not win election to the Senate, with the MP for the north Queensland seat of Dawson saying it will “be difficult”.
At the 2019 election, One Nation won enough support to secure a single Senate spot, which requires a quota of 14.3 per cent of the vote after preferences have been allocated.
For Mr Christensen to be elected from third on the ticket, One Nation would need to secure a primary vote of about 38 per cent or more and then rely on preferences to get him over the line.
Under parliament rules, a politician who “retires involuntarily” from parliament – including through loss of party endorsement or defeat at an election, including defeat at an election where he or she has campaigned to be elected to represent a different electoral division or to the other House of Parliament – is eligible for the one-off handout.
The “resettlement allowance” is worth about $105,000, or six month’s salary.
Last year, The Australian revealed that after he announced his plans to retire, Mr Christensen had quietly sought to be disendorsed by the Liberal National Party so he could become eligible for the taxpayer-funded payout.
After his request was made public, party bosses shut down debate and it was refused.
An LNP spokesman refuted Mr Christensen’s suggestion that it was the Dawson federal divisional council’s decision not to proceed with his nomination.
“George Christensen retired from the Australian parliament,” he said. “He was free to contest preselection as the LNP candidate for Dawson, but chose not to do so.
“We have thanked George Christensen for his contribution over the years, and his decision to stand for One Nation does not come as a surprise to anyone.”
The Clerk of the House of Representatives, Claressa Surtrees, said she could not comment on individual members or Mr Christensen’s claim that he was “highly likely” to be entitled to the payment.
At a press conference to announce his candidature, Mr Christensen said he believed he would have done “his job” if he helped Senator Hanson and fellow candidate Raj Guruswamy, who holds the No 2 position on the One Nation ticket, get “across the line”.
Mr Christensen has been the MP for Dawson since 2010.
He won his seat with a margin of 14.6 per cent in 2019 after securing a swing of 11.2 per cent.
Senator Hanson bristled at suggestions that she should put Mr Christensen at No 2 on the ticket for any chance of him being elected.
Mr Christensen said he had “repeatedly” declined requests to join other parties. “I was elected as a member of the LNP, I served with the LNP until the parliament was finished,” he said.
Former Nationals Senate leader Mr Boswell, who led the political fight against One Nation when Senator Hanson first formed the party, said he was disappointed with Mr Christensen’s defection.
“I recruited George when he was a big fish in a little puddle in the Mackay City Council because I thought he would stand-up on issues,” he said.
“But now he is endangering our best ball carrier in Matt Canavan (a Nationals senator who is seeking re-election), who has stood up for every conservative issue that has been brought forward in his time in parliament.”
Mr Boswell said Mr Christensen would not win but could become a drag on support for Senator Canavan.
Senator Canavan labelled his former colleague a “coward” who was “shirking a fight”.
“I think that deserting the people who get you there is not admirable and, worse, it’s ineffective,” he told The Australian.
“Minor parties are just echo chambers where you feel good because everyone agrees with you but they don’t change the direction of the country.”
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