ABC tells One Nation to remove cartoon with violent depiction of Bluey

The ABC has called on One Nation to take down its satirical cartoons that violently depict the beloved children's character Bluey.

ABC managing director Hugh Marks yesterday told Senate estimates the national broadcaster was considering legal action over the use of the animated character in Pauline Hanson's Please Explain cartoon series.

In one episode, released in 2024, Bluey and former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews were depicted running over each other in cars.

Last week, independent MP Helen Haines lost both of her legs after being hit by a car in what police are treating as a deliberate attack.

Another One Nation video, also released in 2024, again depicts Bluey and implies the character is bashed by youth "delinquents".

A spokesperson for the public broadcaster said the ABC is "very concerned by the unauthorised use of a children's character and national icon like Bluey in the various ways it has been used for One Nation's political purposes".

"As the managing director [Hugh Marks] stated during Senate estimates, the ABC does not own the intellectual property for Bluey," the spokesperson said.

"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."

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson today denied her party's cartoons constituted a breach of intellectual property.

Licensing complications

Bluey was created by Queensland-based Ludo Studio.

Mr Marks said the studio owns the intellectual property (IP), and BBC Studios was the content's distributor.

Mr Marks told Senate estimates that Bluey was a case of ABC-licensed copyright, and that although the broadcaster was considering legal action, it would have to work in conjunction with the IP holder to take that step.

"I would imagine that it's a breach of intellectual property and a cease-and-desist letter should be issued,"

he said.

Ludo Studios and the BBC were contacted for comment.

Mr Marks said if One Nation had asked for permission to use the Bluey character, the ABC would have been consulted.

"Either the BBC or the independent producer should have consulted the ABC before any such license of copyright would have occurred so I think I can assume that no such discussion happened," he said.

Mr Marks told the committee that the use would not have fallen under fair dealing, as it was not a parody of Bluey content or a minor use of the IP.

"In my view, it is an infringement of the intellectual property, number one, but it's also a shocking use of, you know, Australia's most loved character," he said.

"In a video that is both shocking and disrespectful to the children of Australia who love that character so much."

Mr Marks said he was working with the ABC's general counsel to take legal action.

"I think in this case damages are going to be an insufficient remedy, so it'll be the nature of injunctive relief, ultimately, would be what you would seek."

Communications Minister says ABC 'right to be concerned'

Communications Minister Anika Wells called on One Nation to explain the cartoons.

"Bluey is one of Australia's biggest, most loved, most well-known exports," she told ABC Radio National.

"I think the ABC is well within its right to be concerned here."

Ms Wells said One Nation needed to explain the cartoon.

"Satire is one thing. Scrutiny is important," she said.

"I think that the people that are making this cartoon should explain why this errs on the side of satire and not something more."

It is the latest in a series of controversies regarding One Nation's cartoons.

This week, the creator of the Please Explain cartoons refused to apologise to Senator Jacqui Lambie after One Nation published a widely condemned video mocking her vaginal prolapse.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson initially defended the cartoon before admitting she had not seen it, and later apologised.

Bluey was also depicted in a colouring book handed out to children from a One Nation booth in South Australia, showing the character being held at knifepoint.

In a press conference, Senator Hanson said she would not be discussing the cartoons or the colouring book, saying the latter was a matter for "the party and the executive in Victoria", despite the book being distributed in South Australia.