George Christensen steps down from Mackay councillor role, citing family concerns

The former MP returned to Mackay council in 2024, but has resigned roughly 12 months later.

Mackay Councillor George Christensen has resigned from his council role roughly 12 months after he was voted in. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

George Christensen will step down from Mackay council at 5pm on Friday, citing a need to take care of his daughter.

This will spark a by-election to find his replacement.

Mr Christensen was voted back in to the regional Queensland council in 2024, a return to where he started his political career in 2014 before two stints as the LNP member for Dawson.

Speaking at the May 28 meeting, he said he may soon need be the primary carer for his daughter, and that family must come first.

“Family is private, family is sacred, and I trust people will understand,” Mr Christensen said.

“It has been an honour to be here, I do leave with some sadness. There will be regret.

“I go with peace knowing it was the right decision for the right reason — nothing matters more than family.

“Especially my daughter, who needs me right now.”

This masthead reported last week Mr Christensen was seeking contributions to his personal Substack publishing platform of $99 to fly to Canberra and cover Parliament sitting weeks — which overlapped with council meetings.

When asked, Mr Christensen said he could “walk and chew gum at the same time” and that his council work would be unaffected.

Mr Christensen said recent media reporting around him was “nothing but a mosquito bite” and his decision to step down was not affected by it.

“In fact, I informed Cr Peter Sheedy of my resignation plans before the latest attack even appeared,” he said.

That would mean Mr Christensen intended to resign from council when he was seeking money to travel to Canberra for federal politics, despite his statement: “The subscription drive that the Weekly Mercury are huffing and puffing about is simply to support voluntary, independent coverage of federal politics.”

This masthead asked Mr Christensen in October whether he intended on staying for his full council term, after several members of the community approached the Daily Mercury.

Mr Christensen said he had no intention of stepping down at the time.

More to come.

Originally published as George Christensen steps down from Mackay councillor role, citing family concerns