<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A growing number of politicians have called for consequences or an apology after </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bob-katter-threatens-journalist-immigration-rallies/5ef3fbd1-976d-4b83-b178-e4e7b2414f8d" rel="" target="" title="independent MP Bob Katter threatened to punch a journalist"><span>independent MP Bob Katter threatened to punch a journalist</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At a press conference in </span><a href="http://www.9news.com.au/brisbane" rel="" target="" title="Brisbane"><span>Brisbane</span></a><span> yesterday morning, Katter was expressing support for anti-immigration rallies scheduled across the country this weekend when 9News reporter Josh Bavas began asking him about his Lebanese heritage.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bavas was unable to finish his question before the furious MP interjected.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/porepunkah-victoria-police-officer-shooting-people-escorted-from-home/58cb7c8b-9cc2-412b-baf9-94a6619eebe4" target="_blank"><strong><span>Police descend on home in Porepunkah amid search for alleged cop killer</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Oh mate, don't say that because that irritates me," Katter shouted.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I've punched blokes in the mouth for saying that, don't you dare say that.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My family have been in this country for 140 years.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/bob-katter-punch-australian-politician-threatens-to-punch-journalist-calls-for-consequences-national-news/8725b7d2-d3f0-41a7-935b-ba8fe4d972a1" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And if you say anything like that, I have on many occasions, punched blokes in the mouth. So I'm restraining myself today."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has suggested Katter "have a look at himself".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Bob Katter, I like," Albanese said on </span><em><span>Today</span></em><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But Bob Katter needs to take a look at that footage, have a look at himself, frankly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That's just not what we expect of any Australian, let alone someone in public office."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/porepunkah-shooting-national-gun-register-debate/cc7e23cf-f479-4630-ad3d-6a277a52459e" target="_blank"><strong><span>Call for urgent 'change of approach' following horror cop shooting</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Former deputy prime minister and Labor Party President Wayne Swan also appeared on Today this morning, calling on Katter to apologise and "take the journo for a beer".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Independent MP Dai Le said being questioned as a migrant triggered some people.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Some people get triggered by that question... because they see themselves as an Aussie."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Health minister Mark Butler also branded the display "unacceptable".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Victorian Liberal Senator Jane Hume today told </span><em><span>Sunrise</span></em><span> being a "colourful character" was "no excuse for inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You should always be able to feel safe and respected at work, journalists and politicians," Hume said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/minneapolis-us-police-examine-online-videos-writings-possibly-linked-to-church-shooting-suspect/53e05335-cdf5-44dc-9d5a-926efa53ab2c" target="_blank"><strong><span>The twisted messages posted by church mass shooter</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The idea of threatening violence is entirely unacceptable.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There must be consequences."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She suggested the incident should be looked at by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Is Bob Katter of Lebanese descent?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Archival records suggest Bob Katter's grandfather migrated to Australia from Lebanon around the late 1800s as Carlyle Assad Khittar before changing his name to Carl Robert Katter.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bob Katter, who was born in the Queensland town of Cloncurry in 1945, has a history of reacting angrily to questions about his heritage, having described similar questions as racist in 2018.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At another point in yesterday's press conference, Bavas began a question by saying: "Regardless of the country, there are people who have come here from other countries, like yourself, like your family, that have good values."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That sparked another angry interjection from Katter, who strode up to Bavas, pointing his finger and shaking his fist close to the reporter's face.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"No, listen, just don't say that, don't say that because you're a racist," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You cannot say what you've just said without being identified as a racist.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"So gentlemen, ladies, this man is a racist."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nine's news and current affairs director Fiona Dear later issued a statement demanding an apology and branding the accusation of racism as "baseless and offensive".</span></div></div><div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5), 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px auto;max-width:440px;padding:0;width:99.375%"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DN4zuC-DeKs/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=6cc2b976-4d21-4392-b31a-04601a42b0f1"></a></blockquote></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What are the March for Australia protests?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Anti-immigration rallies have been scheduled in all Australian capital cities for this Sunday, August 31 with demonstrations also expected in some regional cities.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The March for Australia website says the demonstration is calling for an "end to mass migration".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Australia is changing in ways most of us never agreed to," it reads.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"People are waking up to a country they barely recognise.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Endless migration, weak leadership, and political cowardice have brought us here, and it's time to put a stop to it."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Katter has expressed support for the movement and intends to attend the Brisbane rally.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If you have anti-Australian sentiments, then get the hell out of my country, because we are taking the names down now of anyone that treats our flag badly," he said at another point in the press conference.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're taking their names down. The gloves are coming right off."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-weather-update-severe-conditions-for-south-eastern-states/0eec56a9-c53e-4080-9094-b87630694aa0" target="_blank"><strong><span>Polar blast brings 100km/h winds and blizzards for millions</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government is opposed to the planned rallies, criticising them as un-Australian.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There is no place in our country for people who seek to divide and undermine our social cohesion," Home Affairs minister Tony Burke said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We stand with modern Australia against these rallies - nothing could be less Australian."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Multicultural Affairs minister Anne Aly slammed the rallies as racist.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We will not be intimidated.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This brand of far-right activism grounded in racism and ethnocentrism has no place in modern Australia."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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