<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bob Katter has threatened a journalist for asking about the independent MP's heritage while he was promoting anti-immigration rallies in a bizarre and at times chilling press conference.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>9News reporter Josh Bavas began asking Katter about his Lebanese heritage, but wasn't able to finish his question before the furious MP interjected.</span></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><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/nuisance-tariffs-treasurer-jim-chalmers-to-cut-tariffs-on-consumer-goods/1b5c068c-301e-4aa3-a38a-2a4bf8c524b3"><strong><span>Aussie government takes aim at Trump with 500 tax cuts</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></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 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><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/bob-katter-threatens-journalist-immigration-rallies/5ef3fbd1-976d-4b83-b178-e4e7b2414f8d" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At another point in the 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"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/porepunkah-victoria-police-shooting-live-updates-latest-news-headlines-august-28/f7468db3-e8b6-45b9-92b0-16de670d2c26"><strong><span>Hail, storm could confront police hunting alleged cop-killer</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Katter then said Bavas didn't have the freedom to ask a question because it was racist and he didn't consider him a "proper, fair-minded Australian".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Archival records suggest 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>The long-serving politician was today promoting anti-immigration rallies which will be held across the country this weekend.</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"><span>Katter, who was born in the Queensland town of Cloncurry in 1945, has a history of reacting angrily to questions about his heritage, having once again described similar questions as racist in 2018.</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>:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><strong><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. Available on the</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>