Bob Katter Responds Contentiously to Questions About Lebanese Heritage

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Independent federal Member of Parliament Bob Katter threatened physical violence towards a journalist after being questioned about his ancestral background, in light of upcoming pro-Australia demonstrations scheduled nationwide.

During a tense exchange in Brisbane on Thursday, 80-year-old Katter aggressively confronted a television reporter, raising his fist when the reporter inquired about his family’s Lebanese descent.

Bob Katter, recognized as the longest-serving MP in federal parliament, displayed anger when his Lebanese roots were brought up by Nine Network journalist Josh Bavas.

His grandfather Carl Robert Katter immigrated from Lebanon to Australia in 1898.

“Don’t say that, because that irritates me, and I punch blokes in the mouth for saying that,” Katter yelled, cutting off the reporter’s question.

“I am Australian. My family have been here since the dawn of time.”

He then approached Bavas threateningly, raising his fist as the reporter attempted to get Katter’s opinion on newcomers to Australia who arrive with “good values”.

“You’re a racist,” the veteran MP said, holding his fist close to the reporter’s face.

“You cannot say what you just said without being identified as a racist.

“Gentlemen, ladies, this man is a racist. Don’t listen to him.”

Bavas stood his ground, taking Katter to task about the confrontation.

“It isn’t appropriate to raise a fist to a journalist even before they complete their question – I find it very disrespectful to threaten a journalist,” he said.

Katter to be ‘front and centre’ at March for Australia rally

The MP for the Queensland seat of Kennedy had earlier claimed at the Katter’s Australian Party press conference that he would be “front and centre” at the rally in Brisbane on Sunday.

The rallies have sparked safety fears for multi-cultural communities amid fears they may be targeted.

The rally in Brisbane will be held on the final weekend of the state’s Multicultural Month.

Katter claimed migrants who mostly move to Melbourne and Sydney were not embracing Australian culture.

“I don’t care whether you’re born here or not, if you have anti-Australian sentiments then get the hell out of my country,” he said.

Organisers have been linked with white nationalist ideas but they have distanced themselves from far-right groups.

Nine Network, Katter demand apology

Bavas later said he was trying to ask about the value migrant Australian families “including the Katters and my own” bring to the nation before he was cut off.

“In my near 20 years in journalism I’ve never experienced that kind of reaction from an elected representative,” he said in a joint statement.

Nine Network stood by Bavas, demanding Katter apologise for his “unacceptable” behaviour.

“His baseless and offensive accusation of racism is an irresponsible attempt to shut down a legitimate line of questioning,” Nine Network’s Fiona Dear said in the statement.

Katter also demanded an apology, publishing a Facebook post later in the day in which he said: “To be seen as anything other than Australian is highly insulting to me”.