Pauline Hanson denies responsibility for colouring book depicting Bluey being held at knifepoint

Pauline Hanson has denied responsibility for a One Nation political colouring book that included a depiction of children’s cartoon character Bluey being held at knifepoint and carrying an authorisation from the party leader.

The emergence of the colouring book, which was distributed at a country show in South Australia, is the latest in a string of controversies involving One Nation’s Please Explain cartoon series. The ABC has urged One Nation to “immediately” remove Bluey references from the videos, with its managing director, Hugh Marks, saying the broadcaster was considering its legal options.

Videos shared by the party in August shows the colouring book being available at a One Nation stall at the Ekka agricultural show in Brisbane – and Hanson herself holding a copy of it as she spoke to a young girl.

Asked about the matters on Wednesday, Hanson rejected questions about the web series and dodged questions about the colouring book by claiming it was “to do with the party and with the executive”.

“I’m not discussing that,” Hanson initially said, when asked about the book.

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The cartoon series has been criticised in recent weeks, including over a controversial episode that mocked Jacqui Lambie’s health issues which resulted in Hanson apologising because “it wasn’t as tastefully done as it could have been” and asking for it to be re-edited.

Episodes released in 2023 and 2024 also showed federal politicians being run over by motor vehicles – including one that featured Bluey.

Hanson and her colleagues have this week rejected criticisms of the cartoons, denying they contribute to violence and defending them as satire.

On Tuesday, Marks told Senate estimates that that he became aware of One Nation’s potential breach of intellectual property rights last week and sought legal advice around the use of Bluey, who is depicted running over Anthony Albanese and former Victorian premier Dan Andrews with an SUV.

An ABC spokesperson said on Wednesday that while the broadcaster does not own the intellectual property for Bluey, it was “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,” they said.

In a statement posted on social media, One Nation slammed Marks’ claims.

“The supposedly impartial Director-General of the ABC, Hugh Marks, has not for the first time taken aim at One Nation. This time, over Bluey! He cannot hide his contempt for One Nation and its voters,” One Nation wrote on X.

The ABC first reported that colouring books, featuring caricatures of politicians in the style of the Please Explain web series, were handed out at the One Nation booth at the Mount Gambier show.

The cover reads “Pauline Hanson’s One Nation colouring book”, with spaces for people to write their name and age. The ABC reported that the back of the book carried an authorisation message from Hanson herself.

Guardian Australia has uncovered several glimpses of such colouring books in One Nation videos. In one, Hanson appears to be holding a copy of the colouring book as she speaks to a young girl at the Ekka, and appears to hand her a glow stick.

In another, stacks of the books are seen in a basket at the One Nation stall, alongside other merchandise for sale including hats, balls and bobblehead dolls.

Asked about the Please Explain series at a press conference on Wednesday, Hanson said: “I’m not here to talk about the cartoons at the moment.”

“I’ve got other questions about what is important to me and Australian people at the moment. What about the inflation? That’s what’s important to the people out there,” the senator said.

Asked further whether she thought the use of Bluey was a breach of intellectual property, as alleged by Marks, Hanson replied: “No”.

When pressed on colouring book carrying an authorisation message from her, Hanson would only say: “If anything’s there to do with that, it will be to do with the party and with the executive.”

One Nation’s national office was contacted for comment.

Contacted for response about the videos showing the colouring book being distributed at the Ekka and held by Hanson herself, a spokesperson for the senator said they had no further comment.