George Christensen has laughed off becoming an internet sensation for posing for a photo in a singlet with a whip, saying jokes at his expense are like "water off a duck's back".
Mr Christensen, the member for Dawson in north Queensland, posed for the photo for a profile of him in Saturday's Good Weekend magazine.
The image went viral when a preview of the cover was posted on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon. ABC News Breakfast host Virginia Trioli on Friday described it as "an astonishing portrait that will go down in Australian political history".
"I haven't stopped hearing about it since question time on Wednesday afternoon," Mr Christensen told Fairfax Media.
Here's what 2017 looks like, Australia. Credit: Andrew Meares
"Even the Prime Minister mentioned it in his speech at the Coalition Christmas party when he was thanking the party whips. He said I had gone above and beyond the call of duty by posing for the photo."
Asked about widely-shared parodies of the image, Mr Christensen said: "It's all right. I knew it would create a bit of a stir but so be it. There have been some pretty funny responses."
He added: "I won't be doing that sort of photo shoot again."
Mr Christensen said his favourite response was from comedian Magda Szubanski, who tweeted: "I know what my next film role is! I will play George Christensen in bio-pic of his life as a closet S&M lesbian."
Conservative politician George Christensen has been critical of Wilmar. Credit: Andrew Meares
"I'm really looking forward to the film," he said.
"One thing I did notice was people saying it looks gay as if that's an insult," said Mr Christensen, who opposes same-sex marriage. "I wonder if people stop and think they are promoting homophobia by saying that sort of thing."
Fairfax Media chief photographer Andrew Meares, who took the portrait, said: "My aim was not to inspire ridicule but to craft a cover image for a magazine profile that would encourage the reader to learn more about the provocative MP.
"Christensen's faith - symbolised by his stunning Coptic icon tattoo - and influence as Nationals chief whip are crucial to understanding him.
"George is a complex character and our role as journalists is not to judge but inform."