Add Category
Posted
Federal police are considering whether to investigate Nationals MP George Christensen over a photo he posted to Facebook holding a gun and appearing to threaten "greenie punks".
- Mr Christensen wrote "You gotta ask yourself, do you feel lucky, greenie punks?"
- Ian Goodenough says Mr Christensen was not threatening anyone
- Clare O'Neil says Mr Christensen should apologise
Below the photo, Mr Christensen wrote: "You gotta ask yourself, do you feel lucky, greenie punks?"
The comment was later edited to read "You gotta ask yourself, do you have a sense of humour, greenie punks?" and a short time later the post was deleted.
Greens leader Richard Di Natale said he was disgusted by the image and comment, so reported it to the Australian Federal Police.
"The concern here is that George Christensen has given licence to people to behave in a way that is violent towards other people who may have a different view," he said.
While the post has been criticised by some, Mr Christensen has received the support of Liberal MP Ian Goodenough, who is a member of the Parliamentary Friends of Shooting Group.
"It appears that George is light-heartedly making reference to the 1971 movie involving Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry," he told the ABC.
"In this case, I do not believe that George was making an actual threat against any particular person.
"It is more a case of an off-colour attempt at humour when issues around firearms are sensitive in the current politically correct climate."
Shadow justice minister Clare O'Neil said Mr Christensen needed to say sorry for causing offence.
"George Christensen should apologise. It was inappropriate, and I think a pretty pathetic stunt that does a disservice to all Australians, including all legal gun owners who do not want to be associated with these pitiful threats of violence," she said.
Both Labor and the Greens have called on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to step in and reprimand the Nationals MP because the Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce is on personal leave.
"The Prime Minister has to get involved here, he has to make it clear that this behaviour is reprehensible and not permissible for a member of his team," Ms O'Neil said.
But Mr Goodenough did not agree.
"Probably not apologise but [it] probably wasn't the wisest move politically with all the controversies happening at this time," he said.
Mr Goodenough, who is a keen shooter, has made it clear that the Parliamentary Friends of Shooting encourages the responsible ownership, handling and use of firearms.
He also used the opportunity to tell the ABC he saw Eastwood's Smith and Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum at the National Rifle Association and had a similar model in his collection.
Mr Christensen is standing by his photo and the associated comment and has refused to apologise.
"These greenies get all high-minded over a joke that didn't actually threaten anyone, but their illegal actions threaten the lives and safety of workers and their own protestors," he said.
Queensland Police were also asked to look into the post, but have said preliminary enquiries have found no offence had been committed.
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, police, social-media, internet-culture, australia