Christensen’s mea culpa for telling fibs about quitting Nationals

Coalition MP George Christensen has apologised for lying about threats to desert the Nationals and sit as an independent MP.

Nationals Member for Dawson George Christensen. Picture: AAP

Coalition MP George Christensen has apologised for lying about threats to desert the Nationals and sit as an independent MP.

News Corp columnist Andrew Bolt revealed yesterday that Mr Christensen had told him, Sky News commentator Peta Credlin and former Liberal crossbencher Cory Bernardi last week that he was prepared to quit the government if Malcolm Turnbull was still Prime Minister by the time parliament rose for Christmas.

Bolt said Mr Christensen asked them to spread the word without using his name.

Following Bolt’s report on Sky News, The Australian asked Mr Christensen if he was the unnamed MP threatening to quit.

“It’s not me,” Mr Christensen said. He gave the same answer to other journalists, including Bolt and Credlin’s Sky News colleague Samantha Maiden

In an email to The Australian over the weekend, Mr Christensen apologised.

“It was wrong to lie to you but I felt I did not want my name public at that stage,’’ he said.