A routine press conference in Brisbane turned controversial when veteran politician Bob Katter erupted at a Nine Network journalist who referenced his Lebanese ancestry during questioning about immigration policy.
The confrontation was captured on video and has become viral. It began when reporter Josh Bavas attempted to ask Katter about his family background in the context of migration issues. Before Bavas could complete his question, the 80-year-old independent MP for Kennedy cut him off with a furious response.
“Don’t say that, because that irritates me and I punch blokes in the mouth for saying that,” Katter declared, moving closer to the journalist with his fist raised. “Don’t you dare say that. My family have been in this country for 140 years, right?”
The heated exchange escalated as Katter continued his tirade: “And if you say anything like that, I have on many occasions punched blokes in the mouth, right? So I’m restraining myself today. I’m an Australian, my family have been here since the dawn of time, that’s the end of it.”
The politician then turned the tables on Bavas, accusing him of racism. “Don’t say that, don’t say that, because you’re a racist,” Katter said, later adding: “You’re not a proper Australian, a fair-minded Australian.”
The incident occurred as Katter was expressing support for upcoming anti-immigration protests. During the same press conference, he outlined his strict criteria for migration, stating that potential immigrants must demonstrate democracy, rule of law, Christian or similar beliefs, egalitarian traditions, and industrial awards compliance.
“If they don’t tick the boxes, they don’t come here,” Katter declared. “If you have anti-Australian sentiments, then get the hell out of my country.”
Bavas, who has covered Katter for over 15 years, expressed surprise at the reaction to what he considered a straightforward question. In a statement, the journalist explained his intention was to explore “the value migrant Australian families, including the Katters and my own family, bring to this nation through shared values.”
“In my near 20 years in journalism, I’ve never experienced that kind of reaction from an elected representative,” Bavas said.
Nine Entertainment executives responded swiftly to defend their reporter and condemned Katter’s behavior. The media company is now considering defamation action and has demanded a public apology from the politician.
“Mr Katter’s aggressive behaviour and threats were unacceptable,” said Fiona Dear, Nine’s executive director of news and current affairs. “His baseless and offensive accusation of racism is an irresponsible attempt to shut down a legitimate line of questioning and warrants a public apology from Mr Katter.”
The outburst has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, while expressing personal fondness for Katter, condemned the behavior.
“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,” Albanese told Nine.
Coalition senator Jane Hume called for consequences, emphasizing that threatening violence is “entirely unacceptable” and that both journalists and politicians “should always be able to feel safe and respected at work.”
The confrontation has historical context, as Katter’s grandfather, Carlyle Assad Khittar, migrated from Lebanon in 1898. This is not the first time Katter has reacted angrily when his ancestry is raised in relation to his immigration stance. In 2018, he similarly threatened another journalist who brought up his heritage.
Despite the heated exchange, Bavas revealed that his complete question, which was interrupted, would have been: “You’ve got Lebanese heritage yourself, what’s your message for hard-working migrants who come here and have the shared values you have?”
Queensland police confirmed they are aware of the incident but have not received a formal complaint. The confrontation has sparked debate online, with some supporting Katter’s reaction and others defending the journalist’s right to ask legitimate questions about policy positions.