In the roughly half hour-long broadcast published last week,Mr Christensen reiterated many of the points he has made publicly before,including arguments that coronavirus restrictions in Australia have been unduly harsh and disproportionate to the risk of the virus. He also called for an end to vaccine passports.
He also agreed with false claims made by Jones on the show,which has beenlargely banned from Facebook and YouTube for breaching policies on promoting hate and harassment.
Former Nationals leader Michael McCormack said he was beyond disappointed with the video,especially Mr Christensen’s depiction of Australia as a country that had abandoned rights and needed help,and called for the backbencher to be pulled into line.
“I know the leader of the National Party[Barnaby Joyce] has said you can’t poke the bear[Mr Christensen] well the bear shouldn’t go on American television and run his country down. That’s what he’s done. I’m sorry that’s what he’s done and stronger action is needed,” Mr McCormack said.
“Something needs to happen to tell George that this isn’t acceptable by a National Party MP,to go on and run our country down.”
Far-right figures in the US have depicted Australia as a tyrannical state during COVID-19 and railed against restrictions put in place to curb transmission of the virus.
In one exchange on the show,Mr Christensen urged Jones’ international viewers to protest outside Australian embassies. “The rest of the free world,please stand with us,please support us,and every time we see people out there protesting,whether in front of an embassy or elsewhere... it really does embolden the patriots,the people who are for freedom in our country to stand up,” he said.