Nationals MP George Christensen has refused to apologise to the Greens for a photo he shared on Facebook that showed him holding a gun and appearing to threaten "greenie punks".

Key points: Mr Christensen wrote, "You gotta ask yourself, do you feel lucky, greenie punks?"

Mr Christensen wrote, "You gotta ask yourself, do you feel lucky, greenie punks?" He says it was a joke that he shouldn't have to apologise for

He says it was a joke that he shouldn't have to apologise for Malcolm Turnbull says it was clearly inappropriate, notes AFP still considering whether to investigate

Below the photo, shared on his public page last night, 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.

Mr Christensen is standing by the Facebook post and has refused to apologise. ( Facebook: George Christensen )

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.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called the post "very inappropriate", and told radio station 3AW he had checked with police on Monday morning and gathered "they are still evaluating the referral".

Mr Turnbull also noted that Mr Christensen "took it down after he was spoken to about it".

"It was clearly inappropriate. I will let the police complete their evaluation," Mr Turnbull said.

An AFP spokesperson confirmed on Monday afternoon the matter was still being assessed.

But the north Queensland LNP MP, who sits with the Nationals in Federal Parliament, has refused to apologise for the post, saying he was making a joke.

"I'm not going to be moralised at by these extreme Greens for a joke that I put up on social media," Mr Christensen said.

"The flippant comment I made online was a quote from Dirty Harry, who was a police officer speaking to people who are conducting illegal activity such as the Greens are. "

Mr Christensen repeatedly referred to what he called "illegal activism" by green groups at the Abbot Point coal mine.

He said he had taken it down after he was asked to do so by Nigel Scullion, who is the acting leader of the Nationals while Barnaby Joyce is on leave.

MP George Christensen's Facebook post ( Facebook: George Christensen )

Friends of Shooting group supports Christensen

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.

Ian Goodenough said he did not think Mr Christensen was threatening anyone. ( ABC News: Ross Nerdal )

"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."

Mr Goodenough did not agree with suggestions by Labor and the Greens that the Prime Minister should reprimand Mr Christensen.

Far north Queensland MP Warren Entsch, a Liberal, described Mr Christensen's post as "bloody stupid" and "inappropriate".

"I think it was bloody stupid. You would never see me standing there with a gun," he said.

"Quite frankly, if you're not using the gun on a range, and you're not using it on your property, it should be safely locked up in your gun safe.

"And to make silly comments like that, it may well be seen to be a bit humorous but at the end of the day I think it's inappropriate."

Hanson-Young shares email abuse

Sorry, this video has expired Sarah Hanson-Young says she received a death threat following George Christensen's post

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said Mr Christensen's post was poorly timed and in poor taste.

"George Christensen posted a vulgar picture of him holding a hand gun, and making what he says is a joke about shooting people, and frankly guns aren't a joke and particularly in the wake of the massacre in the US only last week with 17 people shot dead, including children," Senator Hanson-Young said.

Senator Hanson-Young said she received an abusive email shortly after she criticised Mr Christensen's post on social media.

"It was a pretty sexist one and a threat to shoot me," she said.

Sarah Hanson-Young said she received this message after speaking out against George Christensen ( Supplied: Twitter )

Crossbench senator Derryn Hinch also criticised Mr Christensen and said the comments directed at Senator Hanson-Young were "obscene".

"I find it so offensive, I am fuming about it, as it is disgusting," Senator Hinch said.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson told Channel 7 she was not interested in the issue and said "politicians have to get out of the gutter and stop criticising everyone else".

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.

Queensland Police were also asked to look into the post, but have said preliminary enquiries have found no offence had been committed.