The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has issued a formal demand for the One Nation party to immediately cease the use of the popular children’s character Bluey in its political materials. The broadcaster labeled the party's recent depiction of the character in a children’s colouring book as “shocking and disrespectful.”
The controversy centers on a One Nation publication that features the animated dog in a scene depicting a robbery. The ABC, which holds the rights to the globally recognized program, has characterized the unauthorized use of the character in a political context as inappropriate. While some political figures, such as Barnaby Joyce, have defended the use of the character as a form of satire, the ABC maintains that the depiction undermines the values associated with the show.
Parliamentary Tensions Rise
The dispute over the cartoon coincided with a heated session of Question Time in Canberra. Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor launched a sharp critique of the Albanese government, accusing Labor of presiding over “out-of-control” spending. Taylor argued that the government’s fiscal management is exacerbating economic pressures, a claim the government continues to reject as it navigates ongoing inflation concerns.
The parliamentary debate also touched upon broader national security and social cohesion issues. During Senate estimates, Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett addressed the rising influence of online hate, noting that ideological concerns and social media integration are increasingly contributing to real-world threats against public figures.
