Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged the federal MP who raised his fist and threatened to punch a journalist to reflect on his behaviour.
Maverick MP Bob Katter, 80, confronted a TV reporter during an extraordinary press conference on Thursday when he thrust his fist in a journalist’s face when questioned about his family’s Lebanese history.
The member for Kennedy had been speaking and throwing his support behind anti-migration rallies set to be held across Australia on Sunday.
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Albanese condemned the incident, saying such conduct is unacceptable, especially from someone in public office.
“Look, Bob Katter I like, but Bob Katter needs to have a look at that footage,” the Prime Minister said.
“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.
“You’re speaking to someone called Albanese. We’ve got a Senate leader called Wong. Migration enriches.”
Federal health minister Mark Butler said the Queensland MP is known for his quirky character, but his behaviour crossed the line.
“That is completely unacceptable,” he told Sunrise on Friday.
“The threat itself is unacceptable and then the physical approach, frankly, to the journalist is just unacceptable in this day and age particularly from a political leader.”
Katter’s grandfather, Carl Robert Katter, immigrated from Lebanon to Australia in 1898.
But the 80-year-old spit the dummy when asked about his heritage by Nine Network journalist Josh Bavas.
“Don’t say that, because that irritates me, and I punch blokes in the mouth for saying that,” he yelled, cutting off the reporter’s question.
“I am Australian. My family have been here since the dawn of time.”
Katter then approached Bavas with a raised fist when he tried to ask a follow-up question.
The Nine Network have flung their support behind Bavas, demanding the MP apologise for his display.
“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 a statement.
Liberal senator Jane Hume said there should be consequences for Katter’s actions.
“You should always be able to feel safe and respected at work, journalists and politicians; the idea of threatening violence is entirely unacceptable. There must be consequences,” she told the Sunrise program.
“Can you imagine if either Mark or I had done this, what the consequences would be?”
Katter is an independent for Katter’s Australian Party and federal parliament’s longest-serving MP after first winning his seat in 1993.
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