Time to retire quietly, Scott Morrison tells George Christensen

Scott Morrison says Nationals MP George Christensen should ‘quietly’ leave federal politics after he appeared on a web series hosted by a far-right conspiracy theorist.

Nationals MP George Christensen. Picture: Gary Ramage

Scott Morrison has strengthened his rebuke of outgoing Nationals MP George Christensen for ­appearing on a web series hosted by a far-right conspiracy theorist, saying the parliamentarian should “go quietly into ­retirement”.

Mr Christensen – who will leave federal politics at the next election – appeared on web series InfoWars hosted by Alex Jones, who has been banned by Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for breaching hate-speech policies. During the episode, the Queensland MP encouraged viewers to protest outside Aus­tralian embassies against the ­nation’s Covid-19 restrictions. He also laughed when Jones likened Australia’s quarantine ­facilities to the Auschwitz concentration camp because they both had “big fences”.

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister, who has spoken to Mr Christensen about his appearance, said the comments made by Jones were “absolutely appalling … George is not a candidate for the LNP at the next election and I think George should go ­quietly into retirement”.

Pressed on whether Mr Christensen was undermining Aus­tralia’s public health measures, Mr Morrison appeared to take aim at the media for covering the appearance.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to promote what they’re saying by constantly drawing it to people’s attention,” he said.

“I’m not seeking to do that. I don’t agree with them.”

Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce – who is currently in Britain – also reprimanded Mr Chris­tensen and said Jones’s platform was “toxic, dangerous and incendiary”.

Mr Christensen’s appearance on the web series also drew sharp criticism from his fellow Nationals backbenchers.

Victorian Nationals MP Darren Chester said his colleague was not acting in the national interest as Australia recovered from bushfires, the pandemic and flooding.

“We’re in a difficult situation as a nation where a lot of people are hurting, a lot of people are struggling, there’s disaster fatigue in our regional communities,” he said.

“We need to work with the communities to make sure they get back on their feet. Going on these international conspiracy theory talk shows and talking Australia down is not helpful.”

Mr Chester also said Mr Christensen’s time in federal parliament had “passed”.

“It won’t be a sad day for me when he’s no longer a member of parliament,” he said.

Federal Labor went further, with education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek describing Mr Christensen’s encouragement of overseas protests as “borderline treasonous”.