Please don’t challenge, George Christensen asks Hanson

Dawson MP George Christensen in parliament this week. Picture: AAP

The Australian

12:00AM September 17, 2016

Michael McKenna

Queensland conservative MP George Christensen appealed to Pauline Hanson not to run a One Nation candidate against him at the last election.

The Nationals whip, who this week defended Senator Hanson after her call for a ban on Muslim ­immigration, was among the few regional Queensland MPs spared from fighting a One Nation ­candidate at the July 2 poll.

Mr Christensen, who held his Mackay-based marginal seat of Dawson, said Senator Hanson raised the possibility of running a candidate against him in a phone call. “I said it would be great if they didn’t — that would be my preference … and I think they had some issues with the candidate they were considering,’’ he said.

“But, obviously, they were not looking at ousting an MP who was advocating the same sort of views espoused by One Nation.

“The views of One Nation to a degree are the views of many in the rank and file of the (Liberal National Party).’’

Mr Christensen and Senator ­Hanson got to know each other last year after both speaking at ­anti-Islam Reclaim Australia ­rallies.

“We’re not close friends, but we respect each other’s views and have a good working relationship,’’ he said.

“On a number of occasions I have shot the breeze with her, discussed various issues and found out where her interest lies in terms of policy reform.’’

This week Mr Christensen ­defended Senator Hanson’s stand against Islam after she called for a ban on Muslim immigration.

Although he said he was against a ban on Muslim immigration, he told parliament he supported a more targeted policy of banning travel from extremist hot spots.

“I think we should consider some tighter controls on borders such as restricting immigration from countries where there is a high prevalence of violent ­extremism and radicalism,” he said in parliament.