Michael McCormack goes in to bat for George Christensen after Philippines travel claims are rehashed in Malcolm Turnbull’s memoirs

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has defended George Christensen after Malcolm Turnbull claimed the AFP had warned him the Queensland Nationals MP could be questioned by Philippines police over alleged payments to women and stays in "seedy hotels". Speaking in Canberra this morning, the Nationals Party leader said Mr Christensen has answered all queries about his travel claims and the AFP had found "nothing to even query" about his time in the Philippines. In his new memoir, Mr Turnbull says AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin had warned him Mr Christensen could be detained in Manila for questioning. "Colvin described how Christensen had an unusually complex online presence and had been spending substantial sums in Manila bars and nightclubs as well as making many small payments to women there," Mr Turnbull writes. Mr McCormack said he would not be reading Mr Turnbull's book. "(Mr Christensen) has answered everything. He certainly made sure that all of his travel claims that he answered those queries... he has paid back anything he needed to pay back and more as well and certainly the AFP found nothing to even query," Mr McCormack said. "I'm not concentrating on Malcolm Turnbull's book. Well done to Malcolm for writing his memoirs. I'm not going to be reading it anytime soon." Speaking on today's announcement the Government would underwrite domestic flights for Virgin and Qantas, Mr McCormack said the flights would help ensure key medical personnel could reach where they needed to be.