Aussie MP Bob Katter shakes fist at reporter in tense public exchange

An Australian MPhas been caught on camera threatening to punch a reporter who asked him a simple question about his heritage.

The footage shows Bob Katter, an Australian lawmaker, threatening the journalist with his first after he quizzed him on his heritage during a press conference. Channel Nine journalist Josh Bavas apparently upset Katter while questioning him outside the parliament building in Queensland on Thursday.

Katter was speaking to reporters about his plans to attend a March For Australia rally this coming weekend. Australians have become concerned over policies they say have created a situation of "endless migration".

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During the press conference, the Australian Party politician expressed his views on migration, saying those who don't "tick the boxes" should not be allowed to settle in the country.

However, his views don't apply to all migrants as he believes those who come from Christian, democratic and lawful nations should be welcomed with open arms. As Bavas mentioned his Lebanese heritage, Katter abruptly cut him off as he snapped: "Don't say that!"

"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."

Another journalist asked him what his issue was with the question, to which he replied: "I'm an Australian, my family has been here since the dawn of time, that's the end of it."

Bavas tried to ask him a second question but instead of answering, Katter called him a "racist" before walking over to him and shaking his fist at him.

"You're a racist, you cannot say what you've just said without being identified as a racist," he told the reporter. Bavas has since said he was trying to ask whether he thought the values one brings to the country are more important than their homeland.

Katter's son and party leader, Robbie Katter, then took over the stormy press conference. Bavas called out the behaviour, saying it was "offensive" to be threatened before even being able to finish up his question. The younger Katter acknowledged his complaint, saying "point's taken", before another lawmaker accused him of offending the elder.

"What was my offence?" Bavas asked. In a post flanked by Australian flags, Katter later took to social media to demand an apology for the "offence".

He wrote: "I am a proud Australian. It shouldn't matter when you got here, how you got here, or how long you've been here... If you live by our laws, our values, and fight for our way of life, you are an AUSTRALIAN. To be seen as anything other than Australian is highly insulting to me and I demand an apology."

This is not the first time Katter has gone viral. Back in 2017, he was filmed as he went on a long rambling speech about gay rights in Australia before swiftly segueing into the dangers of crocodiles in Australia's Northern Territory.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs Dr Anne Aly said the protests were a form of far-right activism that were motivated by racism. "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.", she said.

The protests have also been condemned by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. He said: "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."