Coalition MP condemned as ‘divisive’ after he said Labor were ‘hypocritical’ for opposing the China trade deal while also pushing to increase the refugee quota

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This article is more than 5 years old

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Labor MPs have condemned comments made by George Christensen as “repugnant” and “divisive”, after the Coalition backbencher said that increasing the refugee intake would threaten Australian jobs.

On Tuesday, Christensen said Labor was being “hypocritical” by opposing the proposed China trade deal on the basis it would not provide safeguards for Australian jobseekers.

“They criticise the China Australia free trade agreement but the rules on bringing in foreign workers on that are clear: Aussies must always get first go at filling Aussie jobs and only when there’s no Aussie to do the job can a foreigner be brought in,” Christensen said.

“But there’s no rules regarding the tens of thousands of refugees that Labor wants to bring in. They either take a job an Australian can do or they go on the dole.”

The Coalition backbencher took to social media to tweet similar sentiments.

He later tweeted about the need to prioritise Syrian Christians, comments that drew a sharp rebuke from Labor MP Graham Perrett.

Graham Perrett (@GrahamPerrettMP) @GChristensenMP If you have a look at yourself in the mirror you'll realise how easy it is for people to pose as Christians.

Christensen is a “rightwing fringe dweller” who sprouts “ridiculous rubbish”, the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said.

“This elected member of parliament feeding off the most base, the most ignorant, the most racist parts of Australian political life and Mr Abbott has to stand up and defend these refugees,” Shorten told reporters on Wednesday.

“It’s no point in bringing refugees here if we’re not going to defend them when they’re here from some of the stupidity which a few of Mr Abbott’s Liberal colleagues are doing.”

Labor MPs criticised Christensen’s comments on refugees, at a time when the government is about to announce Australia’s humanitarian response to the asylum crisis in Europe.

“I think it’s appalling,” the shadow immigration minister, Richard Marles, told Sky News. “The whole point of bringing refugees here under the humanitarian program is not about them taking Aussie jobs; it’s actually about them becoming Aussie.



“It shows a really narrow conception on the part of Mr Christensen on what it means to be Australian. I actually think its repugnant,” Marles said. “They do not befit us as a country, and particularly at this moment.”

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The shadow citizenship minister, Michelle Rowland, said the prime minister needs to bring his MPs into line.

“Tony Abbott must show some leadership and finally stand up to Coalition MP George Christensen,” she said. “Christensen’s incessant rantings are divisive, offensive and discriminatory.”

The assistant infrastructure minister, Jamie Briggs, told Sky News that issuing concerns over refugees taking Australian jobs was “xenophobic” and said Christensen’s comments were “unhelpful”.

Christensen drew criticism earlier this year for announcing that he would speak at the anti-Islam Reclaim Australia rallies.

Writing for Guardian Australia at the time, Christensen said that “hell will freeze over” before he bows to public “intimidation” to pull out of the rally.

“We have the fundamental right in this country to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. It’s a right that is enshrined in our western values and it is one that we want to defend. It’s a right that I will champion for every member of our community,” he said.

The outspoken MP has previously drawn the ire of environmentalists for suggesting they are committing “treason” by lobbying the Unesco world heritage to list the Great Barrier Reef as ‘in danger’.