Feb 19, 2018
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”.
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.
