| George Christensen | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Dawson |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 21 August 2010 |
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| Preceded by | James Bidgood |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 June 1978 Mackay, Queensland |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Liberal National Party |
| Profession | Journalist |
| Website | Liberal People – George Christensen |
George Robert Christensen (born 30 June 1978), an Australian federal politician, is a member of the Australian House of Representatives representing the seat of Dawson in Queensland for the Liberal National Party of Queensland, elected at the 2010 federal election. He will sit with the National Party in Parliament.[1]
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Christensen was born in Mackay, the third generation of cane farmers who originally emigrated from Denmark in 1901. With both parents being disability pensioners during his childhood, he developed a strong sense of social justice. Christensen was schooled in Andergrove, Walkerston and at Mackay State High before completing an undergraduate degree in journalism. He gained practical experience at the community newspaper, The Pioneer News before founding a successful publishing business producing two other community newspapers: Walkerston & Valley Advertiser and Northern Beaches Advertiser.[2]
In 2004, Christensen was elected to Mackay City Council and in 2008, gained a seat on the amalgamated Mackay Regional Council, where he is still a councillor. He has extensive community involvement and is currently a director of the Mackay Regional Housing Company and Vice-President of Mackay Regional Council for Social Development. He was the foundation chair of Walkerston Community Kindergarten Association and former chair of HACC Transport Mackay Inc.
Chrsitensen ran as the LNP candidate for the seat of Dawson at the 2010 federal election. On 5 February 2010 sitting member for Dawson, James Bidgood, announced that he would retire for health reasons, after only one term.[3] Based on Australian Electoral Commission results as at close of the tally room count on 21 August 2010, Christensen was leading the two-party preferred vote by 2.04%.[4]1
Christensen gained national media attention during the 2010 federal election campaign as attention was drawn to articles published by Christensen in the 1990s in The Student Advocate, a conservative university newsletter.[5] The newsletter articles contained slurs against Jews, gays and women, and although Christensen claimed that the articles had been taken out of context he said he was sorry for publishing the comments.[6][7][8]
After the election it was revealed that Christensen failed to resign from his position on the Mackay Regional Council before the election, putting himself at risk of high court action which would not allow him to take office as the member for Dawson.[9][10] Previously, independent Phil Cleary and Liberal Jackie Kelly have been faced with a by-election after failing to resign from public service positions before winning their respective seats.
Christensen reportedly stunned parliament when it was revealed on 22 June 2011, he attacked Labor for shutting down the live cattle trade to Indonesia but for not blaming "the religion that actually inspires the torture of the cattle there". Indonesia is an Islamic country.[11]
| Parliament of Australia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James Bidgood |
Member for Dawson 2010–present |
Incumbent |
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