Maverick MP Bob Katter could have his pay docked or face suspension after he was referred to parliament’s standards watchdog over his threats to punch a reporter.
Katter sparked widespread condemnation after a prolonged outburst on Thursday when he threatened a Nine journalist following a question about his Lebanese heritage at a press conference about his plans to attend anti-immigration rallies.
Despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese telling the MP to take a “look at himself,” Katter dug in and insisted he should have been more aggressive.
It’s prompted Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young to ask the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission to investigate the incident.
“The threat … was bad enough but to have now doubled-down on it and said he should have been ‘more aggressive’ is unthinkable for someone in public life,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.
“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.”
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”.
If the commission believes a more serious sanction is warranted, Mr Katter could be referred to parliament’s powerful privileges committee, which can impose a fine or a suspension from Parliament House.
Senator Hanson-Young said Mr Katter had since doubled down on his behaviour because he had not suffered any consequences.
“He seems to think that the normal rules of respectful engagement don’t apply to him,” she said.
“This is not okay.”
“Mr Katter should unreservedly apologise to Josh Bavas or resign from parliament.”
Nine has demanded an apology from Katter.
Asked about a potential investigation into his behaviour, the Queensland MP said he hoped there would be one.
“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,” he told the Nine newspapers.
Source: AAP
