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 said his post was 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.

Greens MP Sarah Hanson-Young said she had received death threats online following the post. Mr Christensen said he would not be « moralised at » by the Greens, who he said supported « illegal activism on mine sites ». « Putting a joke up on social media – if that’s doing something wrong, then there are a lot of people that are going to be in trouble, » he told reporters on Monday. « It happens every day, every hour in this country. »

Mr Christensen had posted the photo as a comment underneath a Facebook post that showed him visiting a gun range. He then changed his caption read: « You gotta ask yourself, do you have a sense of humour, greenie punks? Obviously not. » The MP later deleted the post.

Mr Christensen has previously caused controversy by calling for Australia to ban the burka and consider using corporal punishment on drug addicts.