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Queensland MP Bob Katter could be suspended or docked pay if parliament’s new standards watchdog pursues a referral from the Greens over the independent politician’s threatening outburst at a Nine journalist last week.
Despite bipartisan condemnation of his threat to punch a reporter last week, the veteran politician doubled down on Monday by saying he should have been more aggressive and “just kept going”.
Bob Katter during question time on Monday.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Parliamentarians made no moves to take action against the 80-year-old on Monday. But on Tuesday morning, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young wrote to Speaker of the House Milton Dick and the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission demanding action.
“There is a clear double standard when this behaviour is dismissed by some as the actions of a colourful bloke when other MPs or senators wouldn’t be let off so lightly,” Hanson-Young said. “Senators Lidia Thorpe or Mehreen Faruqi come to mind.
“The standard you walk past is the standard you accept. The parliament has an important role to play in setting the standards of behaviour, and this is clearly unacceptable conduct. Across the world we are seeing journalists targeted by violence and threats.
“Katter should apologise or resign.”
The independent standards commission was established last year and has the power to suspend an MP for a period or cut up to 5 per cent of their pay.
The commission, which was contacted for comment, has not yet finalised any major probes into MPs.
It is not clear whether the matter will fall within the commission’s remit because it primarily covers people who work in federal parliamentary workplaces.
Nine, the owner of this masthead, has demanded an apology from Katter and backed its reporter, who had asked the veteran MP about his heritage at a press conference on migration.
Asked on Monday about the prospect of a probe into his behaviour, Katter said he hoped one would be launched.
“Oh, you give me a platform, I love it, right?” he said.
“My only regret was I wasn’t more aggressive with him. Far from apologising, I should have just kept going. I’ll leave to your imagination what that means.”
The parliamentary code of conduct enforced by the commission states that MPs “treat all those with whom they come into contact in the course of their parliamentary duties and activities with dignity, courtesy, fairness and respect.”
“The standards apply to parliamentarians in the course of their role, including at social events, when travelling for work, and outside of normal business hours.”
Katter made the initial remarks at a press conference last week supporting Sunday’s anti-immigration march.
Katter and his son Robbie, a Queensland state politician, attended Sunday’s marches. Bob Katter used a megaphone that appeared to be owned by a neo-Nazi group, which posted online claiming Katter had used the device.
Robbie Katter said he and his father had no link to neo-Nazis. “There was a person there with a speakerphone, which we used because we didn’t have one ourselves — so that’s about the extent of the relationship,” the younger Katter said on the ABC.
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On Monday, Bob Katter said Nazism was the epitome of evil.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday pushed back against Katter when the MP asked the prime minister a question on immigration.
“We are a migrant nation. Our strength has been forged by generations of people who chose this country, worked hard, and came together around the values of fairness, tolerance, respect, and reward for effort,” Albanese said.
Speaking to his caucus on Thursday, Albanese echoed his comments from Monday, saying some good people with legitimate concerns about immigration attended marches, and it was important not to label them neo-Nazis.
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