AFP Police to speak with George Christensen about gun Facebook post

Australian Federal Police want to speak with Nationals MP George Christensen after he posted a photo of himself on Facebook holding a gun.

Australian Federal Police want to speak with Nationals MP George Christensen after he posted a photo of himself on Facebook holding a handgun with the caption: “Do you feel lucky, greenie punks?”

The AFP is looking to talk to the Queensland politician as it works out exactly what has occurred and which criminal offences may apply.

“We’re assessing it, and as part of that assessment we’re talking to a range of people including complainants,” AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin told a Senate committee in Canberra today.

Greens senator Nick McKim asked the commissioner whether the possibility Mr Christensen “tried to pretend he was joking” was of any consequence. “I think everything around the post and the individual’s intention or otherwise is germane to the investigation,” Mr Colvin said.

Mr Christensen last week refused to apologise for the Facebook post which the prime minister called “very inappropriate”.

Mr Christensen said the post was a joke that had left the Greens “wringing their hands and crying” and he saw no problem with it, but took it down because acting Nationals leader Nigel Scullion asked him to.

“I will not be moralised to by the Greens about putting a joke on Facebook,’’ he said.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young had referred to police an obscene death threat she claims was inspired by Mr Christensen’s photo.

The offending George Christensen post.

Malcolm Turnbull said the image was clearly very inappropriate. “I think we agree on that and he’s taken it down,” he said.

The post drew widespread attention and the Queensland MP was accused of being insensitive after this month’s high school shooting in the United States. Federal Greens leader Richard Di Natale and an environmental activist referred the photo to the AFP.

Senator Di Natale said Mr Christensen was giving licence to people to behave in a violent way towards others with a different view. “It’s disgraceful, irresponsible, it’s shameful,” he said.

With AAP