I have to say that I felt more than a little sorry for Bob Katter last night.
One thing I can say about Bob is what you see is what you get, which is one of the reasons he is so refreshing in parliament compared to those we often see. There are no hidden agendas with Bob, he wears his heart as proudly on his sleeve as he does the trademark hat on his head.
For those of you unaware Bob Katter appeared on Q&A on the ABC last night as part of the ABC’s Mental Health Week.
In my humble view Bob was brought in like a lamb to the slaughter, where anything he said was going to be overshadowed by his views on homosexuality.
Just in case we needed any further assurance that Bob had been set up to look like a foolish bigot he was seated next to comedian Josh Thomas.
For those of you who may have missed it, here is the part of the programme in question.
Questions for the programme are chosen beforehand so the producers of the programme clearly knew what to expect from the audience member.
I do not agree with Bob Katter on a vast array of issues, and I certainly don’t agree with his views on homosexuality.
Fortunately I’m not a big fan of Josh Thomas either, not as a comedian anyway, I just don’t think he’s that funny. However there are things I do like about him. I tend to agree with him on most social issues and think he is a great speaker and has a brilliant way of promoting his views.
However I think Bob was completely ambushed on the Q&A programme this week and I thought it was quite a sad spectacle indeed.
Bob Katter was clearly on the programme to talk about issues that were important to him and also important to many within his electorate and probably many from other from rural communities.
Bob Katter
Katter is clearly passionate about his community and clearly has a great understanding of the rise in the suicide rate of farmers and the despair that is facing rural Australia as things go from bad to worse. These are issues that are also being ignored by those within the National Party whom now that they are in power have slashed mental health services in these communities.
These are vitally important issues and Bob Katter is clearly someone who can speak on these matters with knowledge and authority.
To overshadow this subject by setting up a “beat up the bigot” session on Q&A does the integrity of the ABC’s Mental Health Week no favours at all.
There are significant issues facing the gay community of that I have no doubt. While in the US same-sex marriage has become a huge step closer for those who have been awaiting equality in many states, here in Australia we are 10 steps behind and still facing the wrong way.
However the way to commence this discussion is not to beat up on Bob on National TV.
I should point out that I am in no way shape or form criticising Josh Thomas, I agree with almost everything he said on the matter, and I completely understand why he said it.
Josh Thomas
Where I do disagree is where he said Katter likes to talk about it a lot. It is clear to me that Katter would far rather avoid the subject at all costs. I think that Katter is a man of pride and while he sees the error in what he may have said previously his views are turning around on the matter slowly, bashing him verbally won’t turn his views around any quicker.
Bob Katter for whatever his faults represents to mindset of a huge section of the Australian public on this issue. You can call his views prehistoric, arrogant. wilfully blind, or evil, however there is no doubt that it is widely held view-point, right or wrong.
I also have no doubt that berating him on national TV will not alter his point of view or others with the same opinion.
I could be completely wrong, however my belief is that Bob Katters prejudices are not derived from any ill-will or fear. Nor do I think there is any intended bigotry in his comments at all. It is my view that the views Bob Katter expresses on the subject of homosexuality come from ignorance.
Ignorance is not something Bob should be punished for, it is something that can only be turned around by education and experience.
You may not have an understanding of the plight of the indigenous people of Finland. However I know that making you look a fool on TV won’t give you a better understanding of their plight. The only way you will learn is via education.
Yes there is responsibility on Katters part to seed that education considering there are those in his community whom he may have offended. However as I said earlier, I think that Katter may be seeking to address this issue in his own way, even Tony Jones questioned on the programme whether Katter was “evolving”.
If the ABC wanted to publicly beat up on a bigot then there are no shortage of people to choose from, Cory Bernardi would be a fine example for instance.
For me I think the ABC missed a fantastic opportunity to address some major mental health issues without turning it into a circus for the sake of a cheap shot.
I certainly think that there is a major discussion to be had in this country on the mental health issues involved with homosexuality and how public attitude, acceptance, and overcoming ignorance can help to address these issues.
However this was not the way to start that conversation.
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Actually I do have to agree with you on this Wixxy, and you make the point well.
I was actually paying Bob Katter respect for his deep concern for the people in rural communities (not just his own). Surely he has the right to prioritise those in need of his help? If farmers are his first priority, then so be it.
To be fair, Bob is no dill when it comes to fronting up to the media nor is he adverse to putting himself out there on programs like Q&A – which he has done a few times for memory.
I’m sure he went into this knowing who the panellists were – especially Josh Thomas – and he must have known that questions about his well publicised views were going to be put to him.
No, I have little sympathy for Bob or anyone else who puts their hand up for Q&A. There’s an expectation attached to this show which we all know.
And yes, as this was happening last night, a missed opportunity became evident to discuss some really important issues around mental health.
Hi Wixxy, I think you’ve made some fair points here. But, perhaps unaware to most people, panelists on Q&A get a briefing on the topics / questions that were shortlisted. These questions would have been set far in advance and would have been known to all panellists including Katter and Thomas. I wouldn’t characterise this as a form of deliberate “ambush” by the ABC, because I think as Katter could have responded to the question better. I would argue that he knew it was coming.
It is an unfortunate fact, however, that this scuffle became the talking point of the Q&A debate… rather than the overall issues revolving around mental health.
Katter had the opportunity for some kind of redemption but instead bumbled like a fool. This issue could be seen coming well in advance of the show, and besides, they actually are informed of the topics that will come up. Indeed it was a bad spectacle, but it was all Katter’s to make. All he had to do was acknowledge LGBTI in the community and that they face particular mental health challenges, especially in rural areas. Sure, by all means emphasise that by far the most pressing mental health issues confronting his electorate are those of indigenous communities and from farming pressures. But instead his decision to be standoffish about it is not just plain ignorance, it is telling of the stigma and attitudes facing LGBTI in country Australia that needs addressing, especially in light of “Mental as.” He missed an opportunity to make a positive influence
While the ABC and QANDA are definitely up for a beat up when it suits, I can’t get beyond Katter’s response to Thomas. His demeanour, body language and pained look while Josh Thomas was talking said a lot to me.
I have little against Bob personally but I did get the feeling he was following his Mother’s advice that if you have nothing positive to say; say nothing.
I agree that yes it was a stich up you could see coming from a mile away, however Katter should have known to expect this, he is experienced in Q&A, he could have calmly put it out there that he is there for all of his constitutes no matter their persuasion, and simply stated that his biggest concern at the moment is that that involves farmers.
I am pretty sure he would have more than one gay farmer in his constitute, and perhaps more than one that have hidden this from people, knowing the bigotry in the country to have heard this may just have helped someone.
I was more concerned however with his own mental state to be honest, I wanted to ask was he OK, especially when he kept saying there was no hope for farmers. Yes it good to be honest with people however taking hope away is a vital key to combating depression, once there is no hope there is no use fighting anymore, bringing as back around to the dark little talked about subject of suicide.
Bob Katter is one politician on the right whom I admire. He’s a smart man who does speak his mind, which sets him apart from most of his colleagues, and he has shown over and over that he cares about and works hard for his constituents. I think his faults are far outweighed by his compassion and his actions. I felt that on Q&A he was being punished for a point of view which he no longer holds (at least so blindly) – it takes a long time for the publc to catch up. BTW – has Bob ever discriminated against someone of the grounds of their sexuality, or does he help all constituents equally?
What a load of shit.
Katter had the perfect opportunity to say something positive and instead he chose to continue to be a vocal bigot.
Since when was it the responsibility of the ABC to pander to the bullshit spoken by people on the panel.
The opportunity was missed but the one who missed it was Bob Katter.
He wasn’t bullied, he was called to account for his words and the impact those words have on his constituents. How many of the farmers and indigenous Australians he claims to care about are also members of the GLBTQI communities? He had an amazing opportunity to acknowledge the hurt his words and the words of others have in creating and aggravating mental illness and he didn’t. He instead chose to act like a petulant child, cross his arms and refuse to speak.
Katter has not changed his view on gay issues, he was spouting the same old rubbish publicly in 2011 and 2012, and privately since. He can’t be educated on the topic because he refuses to engage with advocates who try to engage with him. He has decided, for whatever reason, to continue to stew in his own prejudices rather than entertain the possibility of being wrong. He knows perfectly well there are gay people in his electorate: two years ago they staged a gay marriage demo on the steps of his electorate office in Mt Isa. His son was questioned on the same issue at local council meetings by local gay advocates. The man who organised the demo on his doorstep was hounded from his job and his home after pressure from the Katter’s and their associates. Katter is actively hostile to gay people, and he deserved everything he got on Q&A, which, truth be told, was a pretty mild spanking, and came after he had been given ample time to spruik his own very important concerns re farmers and aborigines.
Bab Katter has some admirable qualities. For one he wouldn’t tow the party line when it went against his electorate. All politicians should do this. That is why we elect them. However, watching the clip you posted, Bob wold not even look Josh in the eye. He was afraid of him or despised him. It was not a good look. Josh did not ambush hi, but used his own words to make a point. Who can argue against that?
Josh Thomas is an entertainer, and a lot of the time uses his own circumstances – actual or invented, who knows? – as material to talk about. He tends to present as very self-centered, a product as much of that material and his history as anything else. On something – anything – like Q&A his contribution would not reflect anything much else. This would have been expected by those who make Q&A happen. Bob… is Bob. Much the same, as it happens, except for age and, one assumes, sexuality. Big differences I saw were: Bob was sensitive, it could be seen in his face, to what seemed to be going through the minds of other people, Thomas included; but Josh Thomas showed he was blithely ignorant of all else but his own wagon. The other thing was just a depressing confirmation that Q&A is a charade, an entertainment, no more likely to deepen understanding of any question’s ramifications or context than just reading tea-leaves. Axe it, not Lateline.
Did not watch, but I bet what got loss is the real incidents od dire mental health and risk of suicide in the rural areas. Is QandA about serious debate or is it just another cheap gotcha show, with no real worth,
We must a different take on petulant behaviour.
I saw a bloke uncomfortable in what others were insisting he talked about trying not to put his foot in his mouth and eventually not talking, and the bloke next to him bouncing about flapping his arms and making exaggerated gestures trying to talk over the top of everyone.
Yes I do think Bob Katter missed an opportunity to apologise for his previous comments, however I don’t think he would have liked the idea of being shamed into apologising. Any chance of him making an apology ended the moment to Josh interrupted and started berating him.
If you think that this spectacle changed the mind of one bigot I think you’d be sadly mistaken, I think it would have instead further cemented their views by getting their backs up.
That is not the way to solve differences, it only serves to highlight and intensify them
You state Bob is “clearly passionate about his community”, then go on to acknowledge his blatant disregard & negligence of an ENTIRE part of the community! Your entire article completely contradicts itself- why shouldn’t politicians be pushed to answer the tough questions?! He’s had countless opportunities to make right on this and who are you to decide whether it’s the “right place” or not to address it with him? The fact you refer to this issue as something that there should be a “right place” for, is exactly why we can’t move forward as a society- we should be able to discuss & address the homosexual community anytime & anywhere! Hand in hand with “not being punished for ignorance”- so how do you propose to educate people who are ignorant, if this opportunity was so wrong to address the issue? How ridiculous. If you’re going to take down a perfectly good opportunity like this- at least have a solution to back it up.
Even Josh Thomas acknowledged that Bob was passionate about his community.
I am passionate about lots of things that I don’t know absolutely everything about, and to assume I know everything about them would see me branded as arrogant, so I don’t think I’ve been contradictory at all.
I have the same right to an opinion on whether it is the “right place” to address it or not as you do Aurora, not that I gave one on it being the right place in my piece.
I do think it was the probably the right place for Bob to address the issues, however I don’t think he was going to have an opportunity to say a great deal without being talked over and made a mockery of which appeared to be the agenda.
Politicians should be asked tough questions, but they should not be forced and badgered into addressing issues they claim to have little understanding of for the sole purpose of being made a mockery of publicly. If people don’t want Bob to say something daft about homosexuality don’t put a microphone in front of him and harass him on the subject till he does, that really does no cause any favours.
Despite what you say I do not need to have a solution to make comment on something I observe and think is wrong. The whole attitude of needing to have the solution to something before commenting on it is crazy.
I don’t know how to bring about peace in the Middle East either, does that mean I can’t comment on the conflicts there?
My suggestion for what it is worth and given you offer none either would be for Josh and Bob to spend some decent time together if possible, just not in front of a camera or an audience, and try and gain an understanding of each others perspective. Then appear together to tell us what they’ve learnt without trying to talk over each other.
That would be a good start…
Thomas is lucky it wasn’t me or another of bobs electorate who are less tolerant of loud mouth comedians. Would have socked him straight in the mouth.
Didn’t see Q and A, this week, just watched your clip, who is Josh Thomas?
A comedian, he’s often on chat shows etc
I didn’t know who Josh Thomas was either, before I saw him on Q and A . My impression was of a young man who had some interesting things to say, but was also extremely excitable. If I’d had someone flapping their hands in my face and shrieking, I would probably have closed up, too. Not that I agree with Bob Katter’s views on homosexuality, but perhaps a slightly calmer and more measured discussion would have been appropriate.
Thomas is a largely annoying and over-rated comedian deliberately chosen to be placed next to Katter with the expected outcome.
Thomas does not speak for gay or lesbian people just because of his preference just as Katter does not speak for heterosexuals.
The big thing here is that Katter never discriminates against his constituents because of their sexual orientation nor do country health professionals.
People are allowed their private thoughts yet a not-too-funny comedian, given a spot because he is currently appearing in very annnoying mobile phone adverts- is agreat example of everything that is wrong about Q&A.
Thomas is no great friend to gays and lesbians and his performance does not assist young country gays and lesbians in any way.