Veteran MP Bob Katter Threatens Journalist at Brisbane Press Conference

BRISBANE, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Bob Katter, leader of Katter’s Australian Party and Australia’s longest-serving federal parliamentarian, erupted in anger and shook his fist at a television reporter during a press briefing on immigration issues outside Queensland’s Parliament House on Thursday.

Katter convened the news conference to announce his participation in the March for Australia, an anti-immigration rally scheduled for Sunday. When Nine Network journalist Josh Bavas asked about Katter’s Lebanese heritage, the 80-year-old MP snapped: “Don’t say that! Because that annoys me, and I’ve hit guys in the mouth for saying that,” before drawing his fist close to Bavas’s face and accusing him of racism.

Katter, whose family has lived in Australia for 140 years, claimed he was “holding back today” from delivering a punch. He later branded the questioner “a racist” and refused to take any further inquiries on the matter. Robbie Katter, Bob’s son and a state MP present at the event, acknowledged the incident but declined to comment further.

Neither Katter’s office nor Channel Nine immediately responded to requests for comment. The confrontation comes as anti-immigration rallies across Australia intensify ahead of the weekend demonstrations, drawing criticism from government officials and multicultural community leaders concerned about rising tensions.