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Maverick MP Bob Katter implied he was unaware of the mass shooting in Orlando before publishing a controversial and ill-timed campaign advertisement in which he shoots dead two political rivals.
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In a chaotic and heated exchange with Sunrise's David Koch, Mr Katter defended the "screamingly funny" video and said he "quite frankly would have no idea" about the worst gun massacre in modern US history.
"I don't know what is going on in the media. I don't watch television. I get to bed at midnight every night," the leader of the Katter's Australian Party said.
"You didn't know there was a shooting in Orlando?" a stunned Koch asked.
"I repeat to you that I get in every night at midnight and with all due respects, I watch a movie if I switch the television on, not that I do," Mr Katter replied. "I do not read the newspapers, haven't read the newspapers in ages. But that's not the issue."
Earlier reports
Bob Katter has dismissed concerns over his new political ad as “political correctness” and “the Spanish Inquisition”.
A campaign video released on June 14 was aimed at Labor and the LNP over selling off Australia and shows Bob in cowboy-mode smiling while “shooting” representatives of both parties to “save” Australia.
The video attracted mixed reactions when it came out but became controversial after LNP Senator Barry O’Sullivan said the timing of the video in the wake of the Orlando massacre was “appalling” and Mr Katter should resign.
“(Mr Katter) is an embarrassment to the people he represents,” Senator O’Sullivan said.
“Bob Katter tries to portray himself as some gun-toting tough guy but shooting unarmed people is the very definition of a coward,” he said.
“There are many responsible gun owners across the Kennedy electorate who will be angered by Bob Katter’s disgraceful depiction of gun ownership.
“In the shadow of the events in Orlando, this is the most atrocious and bizarre political ad that I have ever seen.”
Kennedy ALP candidate Norm Jacobsen also didn’t see the funny side.
“Any type of media promoting gun violence is not acceptable in Australia,” he said. “We have volunteers all over Australia putting up corflutes. I personally find this very offensive.”
However Mr Katter strongly defended his ad in an interview with the ABC.
He said the idea came from satirical website the Betoota Advocate and he thought it was hilarious.
“Most people enjoy the humour,” Mr Katter told the ABC. “But there is a serious message too, Labor and the LNP are selling off the country.”
Mr Katter said the timing was not related to Orlando and he had signed off on the ad “one or two weeks ago”.
The North West Star has asked Mr Katter for comment.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
