Queensland election 2015: MP George Christensen says people need 'a sense of humour' over Annastacia Palaszczuk wrecking ball cartoon

Updated

A North Queensland federal MP says people need to get a sense of humour following his decision to post a controversial cartoon of the state Labor leader on social media.

Dawson MP George Christensen yesterday posted on his Facebook page a cartoon depicting Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk naked on a wrecking ball, crashing through a wall with the words "Abbot Point Coal Terminal jobs" written on it.

The cartoon made reference to a video clip for Miley Cyrus's song Wrecking Ball, in which the US pop star is filmed swinging naked on a wrecking ball.

Mr Christensen said the post was a joke, and he had deleted it from his page.

"Some people need to get a sense of humour," he said.

"I think it's pretty pathetic to fake outrage at a cartoon that's satirical just to score political points.

"Taking the mickey especially out of politicians has always been a strong part of the Australian culture and I think we should all just lighten up and have a laugh sometimes because as a nation we're losing our sense of humour to political correctness."

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said he had nothing to do with Mr Christensen's post and called for the remaining few days of the campaign to be free of personal smears.

"He must answer to his team," Mr Newman told Brisbane Times.

"I think when people get into personal stuff its always disappointing but again the point we're making in this campaign is let's just get away from personalities and attacks on individuals."

This morning, Ms Palaszczuk said the matter was not going to divert her from the bigger picture.

"This is what I say to the LNP: What sort of message are you sending to women in this state?" she said.

The cartoon also depicted another woman, who appears to be federal Greens leader Christine Milne, holding a Greens sign.

Greens senator Larissa Waters said she had concerns over the "growing sexism in the Queensland election campaign".

"This sexism is totally inappropriate and sadly it really goes to, I think, the views of the LNP when it comes to women," she said.

The cartoon came after Ms Palaszczuk last week ruled out funding for a rail line linking a mine to the Abbot Point coal terminal in north Queensland, saying mining projects must show they were viable without government support.

Labor has also promised not to dump dredge spoil from the project in the nearby Caley Valley wetlands.

The Opposition's policies have come under criticism from industry, with Queensland Resources Council Chief executive Michael Roche warning they would risk 28,000 jobs.

Topics: elections, government-and-politics, qld, mackay-4740

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