Wild footage captured the moment Bob Katter threatened a journalist with his fist after a question about his Lebanese heritage set him off during a press conference.
Katter clashed with Channel Nine journalist Josh Bavas while speaking outside Queensland Parliament on Thursday.
The federal MP had been addressing whether he planned to attend a March For Australia rally over the weekend, which will protest against ‘endless migration’.
The politician, who was standing with state members of Katter’s Australian Party, said migrants who didn’t ‘tick the boxes’ shouldn’t come to the country.
He said those from countries with democracy, rule of law, Christianity or a similar religion should be welcome.
Bavas began to ask Katter a question about his Lebanese heritage, before being cut off.
‘Don’t say that!’ Katter fumed. ‘Because that irritates me, and I’ve punched blokes in the mouth for saying that. Don’t you say that! My family has been here for 140 years.’
When another journalist asked the federal MP what was wrong with the question, Katter said: ‘I’m an Australian, my family has been here since the dawn of time, that’s the end of it.’
Federal MP Bob Katter threatened Channel Nine journalist Josh Bavas after being angered by a question relating to his Lebanese heritage
It’s understood Bavas was attempting to question Katter on whether he believed the values a person brings to Australia are more important than where they come from
Later, Bavas attempted to ask Katter another question, but was shut down.
‘Don’t say that, because you’re a racist,’ Katter said, as he walked up to Bavas and pointed at him before shaking his fist at the journalist.
‘You’re a racist, you cannot say what you’ve just said without being identified as a racist.’
It’s understood Bavas was attempting to question Katter on whether he believed the values a person brings to Australia are more important than where they come from.
As the press conference continued to heat up, party leader Robbie Katter took over from his father.
Bavas then said it was ‘offensive’ to be threatened as a journalist before he’d finished his question.
The party leader conceded, saying ‘point’s taken’, before his deputy Nick Dametto jumped in and said Bavas had ‘offended’ Katter.
‘What was my offence?’ Bavas asked.
Katter was speaking outside Queensland Parliament alongside state members of Katter’s Australian Party when the heated incident took place
Dametto said he had offended Katter and accused him of not listening.
KAP MPs have endorsed Brisbane’s March for Australia rally, which is one of several anti-immigration events organised around the country this weekend.
March for Australia organisers claim ‘endless migration, weak leadership, and political cowardice’ have changed the country in ways ‘most Australians never agreed to.’
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Dr Anne Aly described the protests as far-right activism grounded in racism, and said it had no place in modern Australia.
‘We stand with all Australians, no matter where they were born, against those who seek to divide us and who seek to intimidate migrant communities.’
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke also condemned the protesters.
‘There is no place in our country for people who seek to divide and undermine our social cohesion.
‘We stand with modern Australia against these rallies – nothing could be less Australian.’
