From George Christensen, former Nationals MHR
George to exit Mackay Regional Council
I won’t be going into details — because this is family, family is private, and family is sacred. So I won’t be discussing it in the media or the public domain. But I will say this: there are moments in life when even duty must give way to something greater.
I hope people will understand that this is a decision made out of love and necessity, not politics or pressure.
Some may criticise me for triggering a by-election. Let them. I didn’t run for office to cling to it. I ran to serve. And right now, serving means stepping aside.
That said, I won’t leave without saying what needs to be said. As someone who’s served in local and federal elected office — and been deeply involved in state politics, having run the campaigns of no fewer than three state MPs — I’ve seen how power really works.
And I’ve seen what’s broken.
First of all, local government has become a bureaucratic cage.
One of the most corrosive developments in recent years is how local councillors are being muzzled — not by voters, but by a creeping bureaucracy armed with vague codes of conduct and weaponised complaints processes.
In Queensland, the Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA) has turned governance into a minefield. A councillor asking a hard question or taking a stand on a controversial issue can be slapped with a complaint and dragged through a drawn-out process that exists more to chill speech than to protect integrity.
Add to this the ever-expanding use of the phrase “operational matter” — a convenient way to tell elected representatives to butt out — and you have a situation where the people’s voice is being actively sidelined.
Councillors are elected to represent. That means engaging with the actual issues people care about — not just ticking off long-term strategic documents. Everything is strategic until it’s being done. And councillors must be free to intervene before it’s too late.
I’ve also found the groupthink is becoming a danger at every level of government but it’s especially dangerous in local government where there is no official opposition.
I’ve witnessed first-hand is how rare real debate has become — not just in council chambers, but across institutions. Groupthink is the default setting.
You cannot have a functioning democracy without robust questioning.
Yet questioning is too often discouraged. Those who push back are seen as “disruptive.” But questioning is not dysfunction. It is democracy.
In fact, the healthiest democratic spaces are the ones where questions are welcome, where scrutiny is embraced, and where the representatives of the people don’t get side-eyed for challenging the narrative. But increasingly, elected representatives are being expected to “get with the program” and “trust the process.”
That’s not democracy. That’s bureaucracy in a suit.
When questioning is discouraged, when concerns are waved away, and when dissent is viewed as disruption — what you have isn’t governance. It’s managerialism. And eventually, the public sees through it and they throw everyone out.
There’s also a cultural problem in local government. When I left local government in 2010 (having had served as a councillor for six years) and returned 14 years later, I found something had changed. Somewhere along the way, too many councils have started speaking down to the people they’re meant to serve.
Public pushback is treated like ignorance. Community outrage is dismissed as emotional. But when everyday Australians raise their voices, it’s not a nuisance — it’s a wake-up call.
Local government isn’t there to instruct the public. It’s there to represent them. And if public sentiment is saying “this isn’t working,” then it’s elected officials — not the public — who should fall into line. They don’t need to be “educated” — they need to be listened to.
And on the issue of rising rates, residents are definitely not being listened to. Next month, like clockwork, most councils across the country will bring down their annual budgets. And we’ll hear the usual mantras: “sustainable,” “responsible,” “forward-looking.”
But behind the slogans is a reality that’s crushing ratepayers.
Rates are rising. Rapidly. In some cases by double digit percentage points. And in many rural areas, landowners — especially farmers — are receiving annual bills in the tens of thousands. I’ve seen rate notices as high as $60,000. That’s not sustainable. That’s not fair.
Local government was meant to be about potholes, parks, and rubbish collection — not building empires on the backs of the very people who produce our food, pay our bills, and keep the regions alive.
Most people don’t want visionary budgets from their local council. They want bread and butter services. Roads fixed. Drains cleared. Parks mowed.
That’s what I’ve tried to focus on. That’s what local government is supposed to be.
So yes — I’m stepping down from my council role. But I’m not stepping away from the fight.
I’ll still be here. Still writing. Still calling it as I see it. And still standing up for Australian families, farmers, and freedom-loving citizens who are sick to death of being ignored.
But right now, my little girl needs her dad.
And no matter what role I’ve had — journalist, MP, councillor, or advocate — the most important title I’ll ever hold is father.
Until next time, God bless you, your family and nation.
For someone who’s been in politics at different levels, I’m surprised at his ignorance about council rates, especially listening recently for former ON Senator Len Harris about his knowledge on it.
He pointed out Local Councils/Governments are ALL subject to legislation under the Federal Corporations Act 2001, the Commonwealth got ALL states to mirror the Federal Act, to do their dirty work for them.
As Councils are Corporations with an ABN number and also registered with ASIC their ABN must be on ALL documentation they issue.
Harris happened to be a Senator when the GST was introduced and the Minister at the time said that local councils/governments CANNOT charge GST on Council rates because it’s a TAX.
All State Corporation Acts clearly state that a council cannot make a charge for a service they DO NOT SUPPLY. As corporations they must NOT place financial liability on a PRIVATE PERSON other than for a services like water, sewage, garbage collections.
What can stop a council from seizing properties that have not paid rates, a PRIVATE PERSON (not an entity like the Commonwealth of Australia , State or Territory). If your name is on the Title Deed, Councils have NO say/authority/jurisdiction/power over your property, their authority STOPS at the footpath.
Having paper titled deeds in your name means you own that property to the EXCLUSION of all others including police trying to seize your property unless they have a CROWN WARRANT (not a magistrate or supreme court has to be Federal or High Court) to enter your property.
State Governments also do NOT have power to cancel all CROWN TITLES either, your name is still on the register, and councils cannot step onto your property of several $100K for a debt of a few $1000s, they can’t seize a property only go to the court to issue a property lien on the TITLE, it has to be registered on the title.
The High Court has ruled on four occasions that council rates are a tax, and each State Corporations Act sets out clearly, they cannot do what they’re doing.
The law is not on our side at a state level as state governments own the courts, the judges are paid by the state who in turn answer to a political party/government and is why you can’t get justice at a state level, you have to step out of the state system.
I believe some Freedom Union members will be testing this soon with the help of Len Harrison.
RELENTLESS UBIQUITOUS HARM TO MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN, BABIES, PETS, WILDLIFE, ENVIRONMENT – ALL LIFE……. !!
IT APPEARS NONE OF OUR ’AUTHORITIES’ COULD CARE LESS IF THEY TRIED. SO MANY PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE OF THE CATASTROPHIC CHEMICAL ASSAULTS THAT ARE EVERYWHERE, ON OUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.
REPORT: FOR COUNCILS – HERBICIDES / PESTICIDES.
Dangerous Chemicals sprayed everywhere by Councils_Residents et al must be stopped permanently.
4 June, 2025
REPORT: CHEMICALS AND THE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON ALL LIFE.
This Ubiquitous Chemical Insanity must be stopped !
4 June, 2025
See these Reports and download from here >
https://fluorideinformationaustralia.wordpress.com/
or https://fluorideinformationaustralia.wordpress.com/chemicals/
(5) Failure to take an oath of office or make an affirmation of office does not affect the validity of anything done by a Councillor in the exercise of the councilors functions.
This paragraph 5 is why EVERY new Councillor can NOT take the Oath.
You cannot swear to “ANY OTHER ACT” when swearing to the Local Govt Act. You werent elected to swear to ANY OTHER ACT. You dont know whats in them…
P. (5) says you can STILL do your job as Councillor without swearing because you have a Valid Reason in that you cannot swear to ANY OTHER ACT Period.
This single Swearing in Act is how we fix the Local Corporation to make it run by Councillors rather than Stooges.
He, he… the poor “perennial victim”, supports sticking its hand in your pocket and a finger up your a** . And if you manage to notice it it cries Wolf, hoping it can swing some sympathy for itself. Classic. lol
It’s like having some intellectually crippled misfit clinging to my back and constantly dribbling down my neck, so disgusting
Re: “The rates should be split into a service levy and a property tax”
What property tax? What’s the property tax part for? I bought my properties with my savings which I set aside from my already taxed income.
So now you’re advocating punishing people for using their ALREADY taxed savings to buy their homes or whatever other real property? I already pay separate land taxes as it is.
And you still want more? HOW ABOUT A BREATHING TAX TOO? What are you, some blood sucking Shylock or what? Enough is never enough for you? Go and suck an egg instead.
(WTF! Nothing like having 5th columnists in our ranks, eh!)
Commenter neo
The rates should be split into a service levy and a property tax, the property tax should not attract income tax, that’s double taxation by stealth
In case you missed it: Rates are a Property tax & fully disclosed in Council Budget 2019-20 text = “Council property rates are a tax on property wealth, not a fee for services used. This is similar to income tax, land tax and other “progressive taxes”. The philosophy behind these taxes is those who earn / own more should contribute more to the delivery of government services. There is no link between services used and the amount of rates paid as Council provides infrastructure and many services for public benefit. There are other examples where the use of Council services would be limited or not used at all, but the payment of rates is still required, like vacant land, multiple properties, other body corporate situations (the owner could also be a pensioner), or weekender / holiday homes.
“Part of the body corporate fees go to maintaining and upgrading privately owned infrastructure and facilities like footpaths, roads and drainage, bowling greens, swimming pools, village community buildings and amenities. If a lower differential rate was applied for this reason other ratepayers would indirectly be subsidising the village owners business as the infrastructure within a retirement village is owned by the property owner and not the residents.”
The above might be a benevolent justification for Rates & Taxes, but we may consider that more highly evolved societies reject this scenario altogether=
“Taxation manipulative material creation spiritually immoral poor excuse for leadership / management.” Telos society.
“Curiosity of income-tax bureaucracy is that it takes more energy to complete than it generates income. This Will be released one day with gentle ceasing of strict regulation without overthrow of government, judgement, pain, and power struggle, when it is recognised as un-necessary. Can Divinity [us] be governed?” – St Germain adapted.
Just as banks create money out of thin air, so can governments issue Treasury Notes through a People’s Bank (used to be the Commonwealth before being privatised) as they used to for virtually ALL infrastructure & services.
This does NOT cause “inflation” as many believe but “abundance” as the notes are specifically for the project or service in particular, & becomes equivalent to a Gold Standard in terms of Wealth (Does Japan/Singapore mine gold?).
So, what’s the difference between a wanker & a banker? A wanker knows what they are doing.
Or, Heard about the transexual donkey? Had a HEE in the morning & a HAW at night.
For a far deeper conceptual description of the Highly Evolved system, consider these episodes=
Middle Path 4: Rates/Endless Free Energy . . . . . . . . . . 10 minutes
Middle Path 5: Tax/Tyrants/Critical Mass . . . . . . . . . . 14 minutes
Middle Path 6: Power Beyond / Eliminate Tax . . . . . . . . 7 minutes
Middle Path 7: 21st Century Unveiled . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 minutes
Middle Path 8: Tax is Collective Belief . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 minutes
You could start with Episode 1, work through to Episode 10:
https://www.bitchute.com/video/tu0doaRgayWy Middle Path 1: Mental Universe, Basic Metaphysics 12 minutes. Watch at Double Speed, it has clear comprehension.
MerLynn said – “… (3) A councillor who fails, without a reasonable excuse, to take the oath of office or make an affirmation of office in accordance with this section is not entitled to attend a meeting as a councillor (other than the first meeting of the council after the councillor is elected to the office or a meeting at which the councillor takes the oath or makes the affirmation) until the councillor has taken the oath or made the affirmation…”
Indeed , which EXPOSES the nature of these SYNDICATED RACKETEERING CORPORATIONS which masquerade as “local government”, which they most emphatically ARE NOT.
That’s right, folks, “local councils” are NOT “government”, and we said so in TWO REFERENDUMS. These so-called “local councils” are REGISTERED CORPORATIONS each with their very own ABNs, executive management boards and their own Chief Executive Officers, all racketeering CROOKS collecting OBSCENE SALARIES off the back of the poor clueless hapless CAPTIVE RATE PAYERS.
And no “elected” councillor gets to participate in CORPORATE DECISIONS without first swearing their LOYALTY, their FEALTY, their ALLEGIANCE to the F*CKING CORPORATION. Which means F*CK THE RATE PAYERS.
And you wonder why “local councils” are OUT OF CONTROL and treat us all like SHIT? That’s because they ARE out of control, out of OUR control because we’re neither corporate executives nor shareholders, and the truth is we’re all just SHIT STAINS who keep annoying the CORPORATION by getting in it’s way.
And if you REFUSE to pay their regular UNCONTRACTED INVOICES for their UNSOLICITED “SERVICES”, if you don’t pay these CORPORATE RACKETEERS their PROTECTION MONEY, then they’ll send their mercenary mobsters around to TAKE YOUR HOUSE off you and THROW YOU OUT ON THE STREET.
And get this, folks, we literally OUTNUMBER these crooked mongrels by TEN THOUSAND TO ONE, and yet we just sit back and keep paying the Protection Money to them and let them keep right on raping our bleeding arses FOREVER.
daviddd22 said,
“It’s just another vetting ground for those who must demonstrate excellent skills in selling out the public…………”
💯 % daviddd22, I’m sure some go into local council with good intentions, Doesn’t take long to become corrupt but. Bags of Cash and the blackmailed are the only ones that make it.
At least we know who the kiddy fiddlers are.
lol George doesn’t know that Council’s are merely junior management in our corporate run grubbernments? Tut, tut… The Councillors are usually just new employees eager to learn how to climb the corporate political ladder.
It’s just another vetting ground for those who must demonstrate excellent skills in selling out the public before they can be entrusted with much bigger public purses to raid.
“Oh what!” you might say!
One of the most corrosive developments in recent years is how local councillors are being muzzled — not by voters, but by a creeping bureaucracy armed with vague codes of conduct and weaponised complaints processes.
The reason for the MUZZELING is under the Local Govt Act they SWEAR to uphold the Act and ANY OTHER ACT to become a Councillor. They immediately lose the ability to represent the voters because they now ONLY represent the ACT.
Read the ACT… there is no need to swear to the ACT.. It gives an out.
I distributed to voters the following last Sept in NSW…. Few read the Act and even less understand it.
This is how we take back the voters Rights by electing Councillors who see this Subsidiary of Keatings Australia Act for the treason it is.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1993 – SECT 233A Oath and affirmation for councillors
(1) A councillor must take an oath of office or make an affirmation of office at or before the first meeting….”
(2) The oath or affirmation may be taken or made before the general manager of the council, an Australian legal practitioner or a justice of the peace……. in the following form—“
Oath (as printed) or Affirmation (as printed) “will faithfully and impartially carry out the functions, powers, authorities and discretions vested in me under the Local Government Act 1993 or any other Act”
(3) A councillor who fails, without a reasonable excuse, to take the oath of office or make an affirmation of office in accordance with this section is not entitled to attend a meeting as a councillor (other than the first meeting of the council after the councillor is elected to the office or a meeting at which the councillor takes the oath or makes the affirmation) until the councillor has taken the oath or made the affirmation.
(5) Failure to take an oath of office or make an affirmation of office does not affect the validity of anything done by a councillor in the exercise of the councillor’s functions.
“Covid” was an IQ Test. Very few passed it. “Safe and Effective” and “Trust the Science” was/is an IQ Test. This SECT 233A is an IQ Test. Try to get this one Right.
Joe Bogan 🇨🇭 SAID
June 2, 2025 at 5:03 pm
Have to laugh, the crooked ABC-TV right now leading the news with the mad mushroom lady.
——–
Hmmmm maybe she can apply for a job as a Cook in Parliament House………
That … Independant Assessor ??? … is obviously not able to function in a job, and since she also is not worthy of being a hen looking after a brood, she should be sold off to mackdoonalds for burger meat.
Her taste might be better than her output.
George has noticed the “communization” of Australia! Because what he has described is the blueprint of how Marxist operations get in and control the operation, world over, in country after country.
Half the average Aussies have been too dumb to figure out what’s been going on all these years and the other half aren’t really Aussies because their immigrant families never threw off their former country’s leftist ideology and passed it on to their kids.
And that occurred due turbo immigration at a rate so high that it was intended to replace the real Aussies and culture, which it has.
Yes, hopefully, very soon, the few good eggs in the political basket will produce some real chickens, that will furbish the farm with food and profits that can maintain the said farm instead of reducing it to just a property to sell off to offshore property developers, and that payed bribes to the farm hands to overlook the downturns.
Did anyone ever get to the bottom of a Cairns golf course being turned into private housing, bypassing local and environmental prosses and that 80 od grand to the Cairns Mayor from a well astablished accounting firm that builds subdivisions?
Find me an honest person in government and I’ll know you are lying.
Have to laugh, the crooked ABC-TV right now leading the news with the mad mushroom lady. It has already worked on my subconscious, I bought some mushrooms this morning. Well we will all be mushrooms soon.
Local councils these days are busying themselves with PPPs and any type of business club to make themselves known to business ie engineering a revolving door for their ongoing career purposes. They used to just limit themselves to developers and ram a Coles+WW mall down your neck but now they are up for anything. Call-out to commenter Kev who hates the air-con malls. It’s not all joos, even though ex-IDF and RBA board member Lowy wears (wore) the crown.
We’re swimming in this “soft” corruption.
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Sorry to see him go..we need people like him to fight the good fight. But yes, family does come first.
George Christensen said – “… Local government isn’t there to instruct the public. It’s there to represent them…”
No it’s not, George. You’ve maybe been blinded by your up-close involvement, not being able to see the forest for the trees, so to speak.
Because local government isn’t there to instruct the public OR to represent them.
Because local government isn’t there. Period.
It’s NOT “local government”, George, it’s a syndicated network of racketeering CORPORATIONS, nation-wide, all across the entire continent.
And here’s a clue, George, they don’t work for us and they don’t answer to us, because we’re neither on their executive board nor are we shareholders.
Those simple inconvenient facts illuminate EVERYTHING, George, those Truths expose it ALL with crystal clarity. This is why these “local councils” treat us like DIRT, George, this is why they treat us like annoying obstacles to their Strategic Plans, because they’re CORPORATIONS, George, and we ARE all just bumps in the road for them to EXPLOIT and then BULLDOZE over the top of.
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