Dutton downplays Christensen’s defection threats

The Immigration Minister insists backbencher George Christensen is a “team player” despite backpacker tax dramas.

National Liberal Member for Dawson George Christensen. Picture: AAP.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has downplayed backbencher George Christensen’s threats to defect from the Coalition over the backpacker tax, maintaining Mr Christensen is a “team player”.

Mr Christensen told voters in his central Queensland seat of Dawson he would turn independent if the government didn’t back down on plans to scrap tax-free thresholds for working holidaymakers.

“I’m not trying to destabilise but I was that confident such a change will occur that I gave that commitment to locals when I was asked about it before the election,” he told News Corp.

On Thursday Mr Christensen and other conservative backbenchers claimed credit for changes to superannuation policy.

Mr Dutton said Treasurer Scott Morrison was consulting Mr Christensen and other backbenchers, particularly those from rural areas, over the backpacker tax.

“I think George and others, as I’ve indicated through the superannuation debate, want a better outcome for their community, the best outcome possible for their community and for their country,” Mr Dutton told Insiders.

“They should be admired for that. But I think George is a team player, our team is working well. I think we had a great week in Parliament last week.”

Labor’s leader in the Senate, Penny Wong, said people might have voted for Malcolm Turnbull, but they’d got George Christensen.

“Malcolm Turnbull might have been elected Prime Minister but it’s very clear, whether you look at superannuation or the backpacker tax today, or, in fact, the marriage equality plebiscite, this is a bloke who is being run by the hard right of the Liberal Party,” she told ABC News 24.

“Who elected George Christensen? Certainly he got elected in his seat but it appears like he is running the government.

“He has determined superannuation policy and is out there threatening to cross the floor again on the backpacker tax.”