ABC demands One Nation delete cartoon of Bluey driving over politician
“The most loved character in a video is both shocking and disrespectful to the children of Australia who love that character so much.”
The ABC has revealed it is considering legal action against One Nation for using cartoon character Bluey in an episode of its controversial online series, which depicts the popular children’s character running over politicians in a car.
It comes a week after Pauline Hanson was forced to apologise for cartoon mocking vaginal prolapse in the same series.
Party Leader Hanson dismissed reporters at Parliament House this week, saying “no” when asked if the episode breach protocols and the law.
In the 2024 episode of One Nation’s controversial Please Explain series, titled The State of Melbourne, Bluey is behind the wheel of a car that runs down Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews.
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The video also shows the politicians running over Bluey and conservationist Robert Irwin and putting their bodies in the boot of their car.
ABC managing director Hugh Marks told a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday he was alerted to the episode when it resurfaced after MP Helen Haines was hit by a car, in an allegedly deliberated attack just over a week ago.
“We will be taking further action, I can assure you,” Marks said.
It is not a matter of copyright for the ABC, as it does not own the intellectual property for Bluey. But Marks confirmed that the ABC has been in contact with the show’s international distributor, BBC Studios, and its Brisbane-based creators Ludo.
He also confirmed that One Nation had not sought permission to use the character in its online cartoons.
Marks said he believed this was a clear breach and a “cease and desist letter should be issued”.
He added: “In my view, it is an infringement of the intellectual property, number one. But it’s also a shocking use of Australia’s most loved character.
“In fact, probably the globally most loved character in a video that is both shocking and disrespectful to the children of Australia who love that character so much.”
An ABC spokesperson said in a statement:
“The ABC is considering available options. In the meantime, the ABC considers the relevant cartoons should be immediately removed from One Nation’s platforms and no further use should occur."
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