MP Bob Katter Referred to Standards Commission Over Journalist Clash

North Queensland MP Bob Katter could face disciplinary action for comments made during a Brisbane press event.

Independent member for Kennedy Bob Katter speaks during an address at the National Press Club in Canberra, Friday, February 14, 2025. AAP Image/Lukas Coch

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will ask the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission to investigate the Member for Kennedy Bob Katter after he threatened to punch a journalist.

On Aug. 28, Katter held a media conference in Brisbane where he called for an overhaul of immigration policy to only allow migrants with compatible values to be allowed into Australia.

Some of his conditions including following Christianity or a similar region and coming from a democratic nation.

“If they don’t tick the boxes, they don’t come here,” Katter told a group of reporters on the steps of parliament.

Katter also expressed that anyone burning the Australian flag should face consequences.

During the event, Channel Nine reporter Josh Bavas asked Katter about his Lebanese migrant grandfather, which angered the MP who said his family were Australian and had been for 140 years.

“Don’t say that, because that irritates me, and I’ve punched blokes in the mouth for saying that,” Katter told Bavas.

At one point, Katter held his fist near the reporter’s face.

The incident prompted reactions from a number of politicians, including Hanson-Young who called for Katter to apologise or resign.

Channel Nine also called for an apology on behalf of their employee, Bavas.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also commented in the wake of the furore, saying the veteran MP needed to “look at himself.”

In the wake of criticism, Katter doubled down on his stance and said he should have been “more aggressive.”

“I'll leave to your imagination what that means,” he said.

Hanson-Young called Katter’s remarks “unthinkable.”

“The standard you walk past is the standard you accept,” she said in a statement.

“The parliament has an important role to play in setting the standards of behaviour and this is clearly unacceptable conduct.”

The parliamentary code of conduct states that politicians should treat those they come into contact with while carrying out duties with “dignity, courtesy, fairness and respect.”

Katter could face fines or suspension if found to have flouted the guidelines.

“He seems to think that the normal rules of respectful engagement don’t apply to him,” Hanson-Young said.

“This is not okay.”

The Parliamentary Standards Commission is an independent body overseeing the conduct of Australian federal parliamentarians.

It investigates complaints, enforces ethical standards, and refers serious breaches to the Parliamentary Standards Tribunal.

The Epoch Times contacted Katter and the Commission for comment.