Independent federal MP Bob Katter threatened to punch a reporter in the mouth for asking about his Lebanese heritage. Photo: Bob Katter.
Canberra’s Lebanese community think independent MP Bob Katter should relocate to the ACT because the continued harsh sun of Far North Queensland is affecting his brain.
That’s one light-hearted reaction to the serious matter of the Federal Member for Kennedy’s threat to punch a reporter in the mouth because he dared to question Mr Katter about his Lebanese heritage.
The federal MP called a press conference in Brisbane on Thursday (28 August) to express his support for anti-immigration rallies planned for this weekend.
But when a 9News reporter tried to ask Mr Katter about his own Lebanese heritage, the Member for Kennedy violently expressed his outrage.
“I punch blokes in the mouth for saying that, don’t you dare say that,” Mr Katter said.
“My family have been in this country for 140 years.
“I have, on many occasions, punched blokes in the mouth, right? So I’m restraining myself today. Don’t say it!”
He then shook his fist in front of the reporter’s face while berating him further.
While there have been numerous political calls for the 80-year-old to apologise and for action to be taken against him over the outburst, the Arab Australia Friendship Society in Canberra is taking a gentler approach.
“He showed his typical Lebanese outrage, which 140 years in Australia hasn’t been able to dampen,” a society spokesman told Region while laughing.
“We are not very proud of his Lebanese heritage either.
“He has been living too long in the bush, and the sun has affected his brain.
“He should move to Canberra and calm down.
“He’s Mary, Mary Quite Contrary. He’s a one-man band.
“Don’t mention my name or he might punch me in the face, too.”
Jokes aside, the spokesman also noted it was a serious matter for a politician to be threatening a reporter with physical violence.
“If someone else had said that they would be arrested,” he said.
Some federal MPs have called for Mr Katter to be punished.
Liberal backbencher Jane Hume wants a parliamentary inquiry into his behaviour.
“You should always be able to feel safe and respected at work — journalists and politicians,” she said.
“The idea of threatening violence is entirely unacceptable. There must be consequences.
“Bob Katter is an independent. That doesn’t necessarily mean we don’t have processes in place to deal with it.
“I would imagine that those new processes that have been set up, and the independent parliamentary standards commission, will be looking at this very seriously.”
Nationals leader David Littleproud has urged Mr Katter to apologise to the reporter, noting that the question asked of him wasn’t offensive at all.
“I don’t think that’s becoming. It doesn’t matter who you are or how iconic you think you are. We’ve been given a privileged place in parliament to go and to actually debate ideas with intellect,” Mr Littleproud told the ABC.
“And we’ve got to be better than that. And, you know, yeah, Bob wears the big hat and it all seems all great and bravado. But I mean, I get questions that I don’t like to answer … I don’t think that sort of behaviour is appropriate for a federal Member of Parliament.
“I mean, this is all about show now rather than substance… I think the journalist did everything he did professionally, and I just think that we don’t need to get to that sort of level of puerile behaviour of a federal Member of Parliament.”
Health Minister Mark Butler described Mr Katter’s outburst as “completely unacceptable” and noted the MP is an actual leader of a political party (Bob Katter’s Australian Party).
“The threat itself is unacceptable,” Mr Butler said.
“The physical approach to the journalist … is unacceptable in this day and age, particularly from a political leader.”
Anthony Albanese also expressed his disappointment at the behaviour.
“Bob Katter needs to have a look at that footage, have a look at himself, frankly, and recognise that that’s just not what we expect of any Australian, let alone someone who’s in public office,” the Prime Minister said.
The Lebanese Embassy in Canberra was approached for comment.
In relation to the anti-immigration rallies, one of which is proposed for Canberra on Sunday, the ACT Human Rights Commission issued a statement (stressing it would make no further comment or take interviews on the topic).
“The ACT Human Rights Commission stands in solidarity with the vibrant immigrant communities of the ACT,” the statement said.
“In website statements, organisers of anti-immigration rallies planned for 31 August blame immigration for a range of societal problems.
“The reality is that this country has benefited enormously from the contributions of migrants from all over the world.
“The ACT community works hard to create and maintain a safe, diverse and inclusive Canberra and values the contribution of every Canberran.
“Events such as this proposed rally in Canberra are inconsistent with those values, and it is disappointing to see this occurring in the ACT.”
