Nationals MP George Christensen reported to police for posting a photo aiming a gun

OUTSPOKEN Nationals MP George Christensen came under fire for joking about shooting protesters — but is refusing to back down.

THE Nationals MP criticised for a controversial Facebook post has refused to apologise.

George Christensen was reported to police for the photo he posted on Facebook of himself aiming a gun to Facebook, writing “You gotta ask yourself, do you feel lucky, greenie punks?”

Today, the outspoken MP was asked if he wanted to apologise for the controversial post but said he wouldn’t be “moralised” by the Greens.

“I am not going to be moralised at by the Greens about putting a joke on Facebook when they are up [in Bowen] putting lives in danger by their illegal activities. You know, there’s a very big difference between these two things and yet these people are out there wringing their hands and crying over a joke on Facebook and referring it to police. They’re the ones committing illegal activities. They’re the ones putting people’s lives in danger,” Mr Christensen told reporters in Mackay.

The Nationals MP referred to environmental activists protesting in the north Queensland town of Bowen.

“My constituents, whose lives are at risk by their actions, it is wrong what they’re doing, it is not a joke. For them to try and blow something up over a joke on Facebook, well, there’s going to be a lot of Australians in trouble if we start policing people about jokes on Facebook. The real problem is the illegal activities that the Greens undertake around Bowen,” he said.

The post, which has since been deleted, was a reference to the Clint Eastwood movie Dirty Harry.

Grab from George Christensen MP's Facebook page of him shooting with comments.

Stop Adani’s Ben Pennings, who lodged the complaint with police, said on Sunday Mr Christensen was an “appalling example” to his constituents and “threats of physical violence to peaceful protesters are particularly unacceptable”.

Mr Pennings added Mr Christensen’s post to a complaint he filed on Thursday with Queensland police after receiving over 100 death threats online.

“I reckon the abusers are ultimately cowards but I’ve gone to the police just to be sure,” Mr Pennings said.

“I’ve added George Christensen to the list and will report him to the Federal Police also. We shouldn’t allow bullies to be Federal MPs.”

In a statement, Queensland Police said it was aware of the photograph and the circumstances behind it.

“Preliminary inquiries would indicate that no offence has been committed,” a spokesman for QPS said.

Mr Christensen said as far as he was aware, “Queensland Police looked at it, laughed at it and basically dismissed it”.

“It is something that should be laughed at because we shouldn’t be moralised at by extreme Greens,” he added.

Mr Christensen’s post was in response to another photo he put on Facebook at a gun range.

The North Queensland MP came under fire for the post, which he posted days after a teenager gunned down 17 people at a high school in Florida.

“Shooting is a great sport. And shooters don’t deserve to be demonised like they are by the media and the Left. Gun owners aren’t criminals. They are Olympians, Commonwealth Games medallists, conservationists, farmers and many of them veterans,” he wrote.

Speaking to news.com.au, Mr Pennings called the post “irresponsible” — regardless of whether or not he was joking.

“When you post something like that so soon after a massacre, whether he’s joking or not, a person like that shouldn’t be in parliament,” he said.

Mr Pennings said he’s dealt with plenty of threats but “people like George Christensen fanning the flames is completely irresponsible”.

“I didn’t think Australia was that sort of country that goes around threatening political violence but it seems like that’s something he wants,” he said.

A number of people have already suggested Mr Christensen should be sacked for the post — including Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

“A Member of Parliament inciting violence against a group of voters should be a sackable offence,” Senator Hanson-Young wrote.

“If the leader of the Nationals had any class he’d sack him.”

After calling for the Nationals MP to be fired, Ms Hanson-Young was also hit with a barrage of horrific abuse, tweeting one email out last night.

“Subject: Bullets.

“Message: Hopefully George has one left in the chamber to fire directly into your vagina you hysterical f**king c**t”.

Ms Hanson-Young has now also referred that threat to police.