ALP want George Christensen punished over vaccine comments

Labor has demanded Scott Morrison refuse George Christensen’s parliamentary vote after he told parents to not vaccinate their children.

Nationals MP George Christensen. Picture: Gary Ramage

Labor has demanded Scott Morrison refuse George Christensen’s parliamentary vote after he urged parents to not vaccinate their children, but the Prime Minister has told Australian parents just to ignore the controversial MP.

Reiterating that the retiring Nationals MP would no longer be a member of the Coalition after the federal election, Mr Morrison said his views did not represent the position of the government and had in “no way whatsoever influenced government policy”.

Mr Christensen announced on Wednesday night he would stand down as the chairman of parliament’s trade and investment growth committee, but said the move was of his “own making and not a demand or request from any third party.”

But Labor attacked the renewed vaccine scepticism in the government’s ranks, with Deputy Opposition Leader Richard Marles labelling Mr Christensen’s comments “profoundly irresponsible” and which were “fundamentally undermining” attempts to vaccinate the entire population. Mr Marles called for the Dawson MP to face consequences for his comments.

“I can tell you one thing, in a few weeks’ time, the Prime Minister will be accepting George Christensen’s vote as a member of his government,” Mr Marles said. “And if the Prime Minister was really a leader he wouldn’t do that.

“So for all that’s coming out of Scott Morrison’s mouth, when it comes to what Scott Morrison is going to do, he will keep George Christensen as a member of his government … I think it is an ­absolute disgrace and completely undermines what Australians have done in large numbers.”

The fresh round of recriminations over the controversial ­Nationals MP began after he ­invited renowned vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert Malone onto his podcast, urging parents to avoid vaccinating their children with mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna.

Mr Christensen’s comments came just days after Immigration Minister Alex Hawke used his ministerial powers to deport Novak Djokovic, upheld by the Federal Circuit Court, due to the potential for the Serbian tennis star to excite anti-vaccination sentiment.

Opposition health spokesman Mark Butler questioned the ­double standards applied by Mr Morrison and Mr Hawke. Mr Morrison’s criticisms of Mr Christensen’s comments were insufficient, Mr Butler said, as he called on the Prime Minister to remove the rogue MP as ­chairman of the trade and ­investment growth parliamentary committee, depriving him of the extra salary and status the position enjoyed.