David Marler
Latest posts by David Marler (see all)
- George Christensen’s Cyclone Debbie diary – @Qldaah #qldpol #TCDebbie #auspol - April 1, 2017
- Shady deals: How Pauline Hanson left a Gold Coast buyer with legal costs – @Qldaah #qldpol #auspol - February 19, 2017
- Turnbull Government knew of Qld land grab before election – @qldaah #qldpol #auspol - February 16, 2017
The unauthorised diary of George Christensen’s Tropical Cyclone Debbie adventures.
Queensland Liberal National Party MP for Dawson, George Christensen, has had a rough week. Captured by filmmaker Ted Crosby at Canberra airport on Friday afternoon he was heard to exclaim, “Christ all-fucking-mighty!” as he left the Virgin lounge.
With Tropical Cyclone Debbie destroying his electorate of Dawson, the events leading up to this explosive moment may give us an insight into the former National Whip. The man from Mackay, the caner of the canefields, the one they call George.
March 27, 2017 – Last plane out of Mackay
George left on the final flight before Mackay Airport closed. AAP’s Daniel McCulloch wrote that, “Mr Christensen, who left on the last flight in or out of Mackay to get to Canberra for parliament, warned the weather could change on a dime right now and urged people to stay put.”
Mackay Airport posted a statement online confirming the closure and that “stage 4 of its Cyclone Plan” had been activated.
March 28, 2017 – Morning: Appeared on Sky
As TC Debbie approached his electorate, “Emergency” George appeared on Sky News.
.@GChristensenMP says he's spoken to mayors in #tcdebbie affected areas and they are urging residents to stay put https://t.co/Hjfkibra3k pic.twitter.com/AjNnuryKTh
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) March 27, 2017
Nearly half a metre of rain recorded in Strathdickie (near Proserpine) in last 24 hours. 194mm of that falling in ONE HOUR (@Amy_Greenbank) pic.twitter.com/xecKdc3jk4
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) March 27, 2017
George copped a bit of flak for being safe in Canberra.
Given @GChristensenMP ended up on last flight out of Mackay, will be interesting to see if decision to advocate from Canberra bothers locals https://t.co/U2HtK394K4
— Samantha Maiden (@samanthamaiden) March 28, 2017
It's exactly how to support NQ. There's more I can do here today in Canberra than being bunkered down at home. @CesarRoberti @samanthamaiden
— George Christensen (@GChristensenMP) March 28, 2017
Unlike his constituents, George explained that he was at parliament house so that he had access to ministers, phones and power.
In Canberra, I have access to Ministers, functioning phones & power. I'm heading to Mackay as soon as I can. @CesarRoberti @samanthamaiden
— George Christensen (@GChristensenMP) March 28, 2017
When home, I will be helping with clean up. Right now no one can help with anything. @CesarRoberti @samanthamaiden
— George Christensen (@GChristensenMP) March 28, 2017
Christensen in Cbr during #CycloneDebbie so he's in earshot of ministers to get help – story from AAP's @dlmcculloch https://t.co/wnTddLjQW9
— Katina Curtis (@katinacurtis) March 27, 2017
"Contact me, text me, pick up the phone and I'll be there and able to walk into a minister's office and get something done." @GChristensenMP https://t.co/mVglp4yZvT
— Daniel McCulloch (@dlmcculloch) March 27, 2017
A flustered George reverted to attack mode and played the “North Queenslander” card.
An MP acting like they're superman up there is likely to end up in trouble, tying up emergency services' time @CesarRoberti @samanthamaiden
— George Christensen (@GChristensenMP) March 28, 2017
You're not a Nth QLDer. @CesarRoberti @samanthamaiden
— George Christensen (@GChristensenMP) March 28, 2017
George also dismissed the presence of a neighbouring, unnamed Labor MP who remained with her electorate. (This was most likely Cathy O’Toole, MP for Herbert. Her electorate encapsulates the Townsville area).
Labor MP was there with the sun shining and birds tweeting. Not a problem in Townsville. @55twits @samanthamaiden @CesarRoberti
— George Christensen (@GChristensenMP) March 28, 2017
Cathy O’Toole was later quoted by Bettina Warburton in Friday’s local Townsville Bulletin on the repair process, “Fears North Queensland tradies could be left out of cyclone rebuild”.
Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole said she would lobby to ensure insurance claim work was carried out by local tradies.
“It would be such a slap in the face after such a horrific weather event to be told that insurance companies will hire a workforce from down south not from North Queensland,” she said. “I will ensure we get as many local job opportunities to carry out the rebuild.”
March 28, 2017 – Afternoon: Asked a question
Safe inside the Canberra shelter, George asked Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to update the House on, “the government’s preparations for and planned response to Tropical Cyclone Debbie’s impact upon my constituency of Dawson and across North Queensland?”
With the question satisfied, George vowed to return to Mackay.
March 29, 2017 – Postcards from George
Throughout Wednesday, George continued to post helpful links and updates on his Facebook page.
Despite the canefields being flattened, George was happy to re-post an image of himself and boast about the sugar code of conduct.
March 30, 2017 – Morning: Supervised clean-up
“Chopper” George accompanied the PM, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Qld LNP Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls to the disaster zone.
On the ground, “Disaster” George offered some advice to people frustrated by the loss of essential services.
The Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and local MP George Christensen arrive in Bowen to assess the damage from #tcdebbie @9NewsAUS pic.twitter.com/fyp7sNoJ0o
— Lauren Gianoli (@LaurenGianoli) March 29, 2017
George appeared briefly in a video posted by the PM.
In Bowen today with @billshortenmp & @GChristensenMP.
We are united behind the people of North Queensland as they recover from this storm. pic.twitter.com/TXtNLPpez2— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) March 30, 2017
George also appeared in the background as the PM and OL mucked out a building. George also pledged to return tomorrow.
March 30, 2017 – Afternoon: Asked a question
Back in Canberra that afternoon, George asked a question about the sugar industry.
March 31, 2017 – Swore leaving Virgin lounge
“Christ all-fucking-mighty!” George was heard to thunder as he stormed out of the Virgin lounge. Something had caused him to blow his top on Friday afternoon and he was forced to sit with the commoners awaiting his flight home.
Someone looks VERY MUCH like @GChristensenMP just left virgin lounge swearing "Christ all-fucking-mighty!" & sat with us plebs #auspol 🤣 pic.twitter.com/lt2JiYYlUE
— Ted Crosby (@Ted_Crosby) March 31, 2017
@JeffMNeale @GChristensenMP I DID take a while trying to fit him AND the virgin lounge in… But he was too far away. Here's a more flattering pic: "woe is George" pic.twitter.com/EU9kRWcbZR
— Ted Crosby (@Ted_Crosby) March 31, 2017
George later denied he set foot in the lounge and inferred his outburst was due to “Cyclone heartache”.
Possibly something to do with the Cyclone heartache at home did you think? & no I didn't even set foot in the lounge @Ted_Crosby @JeffMNeale
— George Christensen (@GChristensenMP) March 31, 2017
George spoke briefly about his trip with the PM to the recovery zone on Thursday and provided a helpful link to a Queensland Government website.
March 31, 2017 – Night: The George has landed
Assembled Red Cross for a photo opportunity.
George re-posted a resident’s power coming back on.
April 1, 2017 – Morning: Facebook George
George continues to help out with Facebook posts but warns that due to the high volume of messages he simply cannot answer all of his fans.
April 1, 2017 – Afternoon: SES George
George has been out and about supervising SES crews.
April 1, 2017 – Stretched George
“Journalist” George has also spent his Saturday penning an opinion piece for the Daily Mercury.
-ends
What an amazing asset to the country this fellow is. (NOT)
Think of the unnecessary carbon outputs from him flying back and forwards two or three times this week. : (