The acting leader of the Nationals says party backbencher MP George Christensen should be condemned for supporting comments likening Australia's COVID-19 health measures to Auschwitz and the Tiananmen Square massacre.
Key points:
- Federal Labor has called for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to rein in George Christensen
- Mr Christensen urged viewers of a right-wing conspiracy theorist web series to protest over coronavirus restrictions outside Australian embassies
- Mr Christensen has been a prolific and vocal opponent of coronavirus restrictions
David Littleproud said he had attempted to contact Mr Christensen this morning to ask him to reflect on his judgement in deciding to appear on the web series of a far-right conspiracy theorist in the United States, where the comments were made.
"I have to say, we as a National party have to condemn — we respect his right for freedom of speech. But with that comes a responsibility," said Mr Littleproud, who is heading the party while leader Barnaby Joyce is overseas.
"We want to work constructively with George, but know that there are limits and there are boundaries that we as federal politicians have to adhere to.
"He is a respected member of the party room, and we want to have a conversation with him about respecting the party room back."
Mr Christensen, who is retiring at the next election, has been a frequent and vocal critic of pandemic controls, prolifically posting on social media to voice his opposition to lockdowns and vaccinations.
Last month he used a speech in federal parliament to liken state and territory COVID-19 restrictions to the totalitarian regimes of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, calling for civil disobedience as a response.
His latest comments were featured on the Infowars web series hosted by far-right American conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who has been largely banned from social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for violating hate speech policies.
During the 35-minute video show, Mr Christensen urged viewers to protest outside Australian embassies.
In one instance, Mr Christensen laughed when Jones compared Australian COVID-19 quarantine facilities with Auschwitz because they both had "big fences".
In another, Mr Jones described footage of the police presence at anti-vaccination protests around the country as the "Australian version of Tiananmen Square", a 1989 massacre where the People's Liberation Army of China opened fire on unarmed protesters.
Mr Christensen replied: "Yeah, I think that the good news is though that we have that many citizen journalists at the moment … getting the truth out to people."
Mr Littleproud said comparing quarantine facilities to Auschwitz was "a step too far".
"Obviously George is at the extremities of much of what mainstream Australia thinks, but it's a view that should have an opportunity in any democratic society to be aired," he said.
"But it should be aired in a responsible manner.
Mr Littleproud said parliamentarians had a responsibility to be careful with what they say "not just in mainstream media, but in the dark corners of the internet as well".
"I condemn his comments, and I think it was an error of judgement for him to go on that program."
Labor says Christensen's comments a failure of leadership by Morrison
Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Prime Minister Scott Morrison urgently needed to rein Mr Christensen in.
"These are dangerous views being pushed by dangerous people and Scott Morrison doesn't have a peep to say about it," he said.
Former Nationals leader Michael McCormack took aim at his fellow backbencher's comments, accusing him of fuelling COVID-19 fears across the country at a time when there was a "need to get back to pre-COVID normality."
"He's criticised everything about our nation ... it's not helpful," Mr McCormack said.
"To run your own country down like that, it's a step too far."
Mr McCormack took particular offence at the comparison between COVID-19 quarantine facilities and the Auschwitz concentration camp, describing them as the "most appalling" comments in the interview.
"They are far from that hellhole," he said.
Mr McCormack said questions about why the Coalition's leadership, and Barnaby Joyce in particular, were not pulling him into line were matters for others to discuss.
Neither Mr Christensen's office nor the Prime Minister's office responded to the ABC's request for comment.
The office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals' leader Barnaby Joyce said he was in the United Kingdom and unavailable for comment.
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