The Queensland Government has complained to the Australian Press Council after the Sunshine Coast Daily newspaper published a picture of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in crosshairs.

Key points: The Sunshine Coast Daily has now apologised for picturing the Premier in crosshairs

The Sunshine Coast Daily has now apologised for picturing the Premier in crosshairs The image has been widely circulated on social media since it was published on Monday

The image has been widely circulated on social media since it was published on Monday Nationals federal MP Darren Chester calls the paper's move an "appalling editorial decision"

The superimposed picture of Ms Palaszczuk was on the front page of the paper yesterday and paired with the headline "Anna, you're next" and "Labor rout puts Premier in crosshairs".

The newspaper's move earnt an angry rebuke from senior Nationals MP Darren Chester, who called it an "appalling editorial decision".

"Violence against women is a national scourge and suggesting any public figure is in the 'crosshairs' is irresponsible and potentially dangerous ... please apologise," Mr Chester wrote on Twitter.

Acting Queensland Police Minister Craig Crawford said the newspaper had put the Premier's life at risk.

"That does incite violence. To some people out there, it is an invitation to shoot the Premier," he said.

"There is no doubt what a person's face in crosshairs means, and certainly from a police perspective it's very concerning to see someone do that."

A spokesman for Ms Palaszczuk said the Premier's Department emailed the newspaper's publisher yesterday morning, requesting the image be removed and for an apology to be issued.

The spokesman said the newspaper refused to do either.

Earlier today, in an email response to the department, the Sunshine Coast Daily said the image was not intended to "incite violence" against politicians.

"This was never our intention and it would never be at any time," the paper said.

"What the front page seeks to highlight is the fact that Labor's poor performance in the federal election in Queensland means the State Government is now in the political sights of the conservative parties in Queensland.

"On that basis, we do not intend to pull down the front page from online, nor apologise.

"But we acknowledge your fear, even if we think it is a bleak outlook on Queenslanders, and will not use the image again in post-election coverage."

Newspaper agrees it was 'a poor choice of imagery'

However, a spokesperson from News Corp Australia said in a statement this afternoon that the Sunshine Coast Daily would publish a message to its readers on Wednesday from the newspaper's acting editor and would also publish reader criticisms.

In an excerpt of the message to readers, the statement said the newspaper had "reviewed the front page and what our readers have told us" and offered an apology.

"I agree it was a poor choice of imagery," the message reads.

"We could have presented the message which we intended the page to convey in a different way.

"In no way does the Sunshine Coast Daily condone any sort of violence against women, the Premier, or any politicians or community leaders.

"Because of this, I also want to apologise to those of you in the community who feel let down and betrayed by the image.

"We won't be re-running it and we are also publishing your criticism and concerns about the page.

"We give it, we have to take it, and learn from these things."

Since it was published, the image has been shared widely on social media by several media professionals, politicians and domestic violence groups who have criticised the publication's editorial decisions.

The Press Council said it has received at least one complaint in relation to the front page of the Sunshine Coast Daily.

In a statement it said for confidentiality and for the integrity of the Council's complaints process it would not release information about the complaint.

Earlier, Minister for Women Di Farmer labelled the image appalling and said it was "encouraging violence".

"The image says, shoot this person, you can shoot this person," she said.

"We must show respect and this is anything but, it is taking it past what is appropriate," she said.