We’ve all seen jaw-dropping moments from MP Bob Katter, who continues in the 48th Parliament as Australia’s longest-serving politician.
Perhaps we’ve even been amused by his wild antics, notably his long-winded, out-of-nowhere questions raised in Question Time.
But his actions today that saw him threatening a Nine journalist, declaring he’d “punched blokes in the mouth” and promoting an anti-immigration march he’ll be attending this weekend, should spark renewed concern about his behaviour.
Katter did the above during a press conference outside the Queensland Parliament, where he discussed his intended attendance at the controversial March For Australia event, which calls for the banning of all foreign flags and a pause on immigration.
When a journalist attempted to ask a question about Katter’s Lebanese heritage, Katter was immediately furious.
Katter started pointing angrily at the journalist, told him to “stop saying that”. He went on to accuse the journalist of being a “racist” and asking a “racist question”.
“Don’t say that!” he said. “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.”
Katter went on, repeating his admission of punching men.
“I have on many occasions punched blokes in the mouth, so I’m restraining myself today. Don’t say it!”
This is a restraint?
And if this is the behaviour and lack of emotional control that occurs while on camera in front of a pack of journalists, what happens outside of this public glare?
The March For Australia has been condemned by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke as “dividing and undermining social cohesion”. Several Indian community leaders and influencers have urged people to stay indoors. An investigation into the organisers of the March by the ABC has found several have links to white nationalist ideas, including one sharing pro-Nazi and pro-Hitler memes
Katter has been promoting the march on his socials and urging Australians to attend. In one video, he falsely claims there are “no jobs” in Sydney and Melbourne as the majority of people migrating to Australia set up in these cities. He says Australia has been “sold out” by the two major parties.
“So it’s wartime now, we are fighting for our country to be preserved and not be drowned in a flood of immigration,” he said in the video.
Katter is often referred to as a “maverick” MP. He’s unpredictable. He rants. He’s passionate. He’s furious. He wears a signature hat! And his son Robbie, now leader of the Katter Australia Party, is typically standing right beside him.
But just as the Katter family’s 100-plus years in Australia is no excuse for bad behaviour, Katter’s 50 years in Parliament is no justification for the toxic behaviour he demonstrated today.