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Australia MP George Christensen criticised over gun photo | Australia MP George Christensen criticised over gun photo |
(35 minutes later) | |
An Australian MP has drawn criticism for posting a photo online that showed him aiming a gun and asking: "Do you feel lucky, greenie punks?" | An Australian MP has drawn criticism for posting a photo online that showed him aiming a gun and asking: "Do you feel lucky, greenie punks?" |
George Christensen, a government MP, put the photo on Facebook on Saturday. | |
The Greens party said the conservative MP's post was "disgraceful", noting it came in the same week that 17 people died in a US school shooting. | |
Police said they would consider whether an investigation was warranted. The MP defended his post as "a joke". | Police said they would consider whether an investigation was warranted. The MP defended his post as "a joke". |
Mr Christensen said the post was a "tongue-in-cheek" reference to a famous line from the 1971 film Dirty Harry, in which Clint Eastwood's character says: "Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?" | Mr Christensen said the post was a "tongue-in-cheek" reference to a famous line from the 1971 film Dirty Harry, in which Clint Eastwood's character says: "Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?" |
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the post was "very inappropriate". | |
It was unclear whether Mr Christensen's caption was specifically aimed at the Greens or at environmental activists who are campaigning against a proposed coalmine - which is supported by the MP - in his seat. | |
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said it was evaluating the post. Political opponents accused Mr Christensen of inciting violence. | |
Greens MP Sarah Hanson-Young said she had received death threats online following the post. | Greens MP Sarah Hanson-Young said she had received death threats online following the post. |
Mr Christensen said he would not be "moralised at" by the Greens, who he said supported "illegal activism on mine sites". | |
"Putting a joke up on social media - if that's doing something wrong, then there are a lot of people that are going to be in trouble," he told reporters on Monday. | "Putting a joke up on social media - if that's doing something wrong, then there are a lot of people that are going to be in trouble," he told reporters on Monday. |
"It happens every day, every hour in this country." | "It happens every day, every hour in this country." |
Mr Christensen had posted the photo as a comment underneath a Facebook post that showed him visiting a gun range. | Mr Christensen had posted the photo as a comment underneath a Facebook post that showed him visiting a gun range. |
He then changed his caption read: "You gotta ask yourself, do you have a sense of humour, greenie punks? Obviously not." The MP later deleted the post. | He then changed his caption read: "You gotta ask yourself, do you have a sense of humour, greenie punks? Obviously not." The MP later deleted the post. |
Mr Christensen has previously caused controversy by calling for Australia to ban the burka and consider using corporal punishment on drug addicts. | Mr Christensen has previously caused controversy by calling for Australia to ban the burka and consider using corporal punishment on drug addicts. |