Australia’s national broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), will issue a cease and desist letter to the right-wing political party One Nation over its use of the animated character Bluey in a politically charged cartoon. The ABC’s managing director, Hugh Marks, raised the issue during Senate estimates on Tuesday, stating that the use of Bluey in the video constitutes a clear breach of intellectual property rights.
The animated clip, titled *State of Melbourne*, has garnered over 1.3 million views on YouTube since its release two years ago. However, its recent relevance came into sharp focus following a violent attack on independent MP Helen Haines last week. In the cartoon, Bluey is depicted driving an SUV that repeatedly runs over caricatures of prominent figures including former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and television host Robert Irwin. In one scene, the roles are reversed with Andrews driving while Albanese is a passenger as the vehicle targets Bluey and Irwin, later shown being put into the car’s boot.
Marks described the portrayal as “shocking and disrespectful,” emphasizing Bluey’s status as a beloved national and international children’s character. He said neither One Nation nor the party’s leadership, including founder Pauline Hanson, had sought permission from Bluey’s creators, Brisbane-based Ludo, or its international distributor, BBC Studios. He also discounted the cartoon’s status as parody, stating the unauthorized use is both substantial and inappropriate.
The matter was raised by Western Australian Labor senator Varan Ghosh, chair of the communications committee, who questioned the ABC on its response to the video. Marks affirmed that legal advice was sought after the issue emerged last week and confirmed that further action would follow.
In other matters discussed at the Senate estimates hearing, Marks addressed the recent leadership changes at the ABC. The broadcaster’s former news director Justin Stevens received a $353,230 termination payout after resigning earlier this year. Marks explained the decision to expedite Stevens’ departure was intended to allow for new leadership, with Simon Robinson, formerly of Reuters, taking over the role last month. Stevens’ remuneration for the financial year was reported at $864,394, with a base salary of $529,202.
Marks also addressed editorial concerns arising from the work of former Four Corners reporter Mahmood Fazal, who was dismissed following an internal review. The ABC removed several episodes produced by Fazal due to issues surrounding the use of anonymous sources, with a review uncovering significant flaws in his reporting. Marks confirmed the leadership team for the program has been refreshed and expressed confidence in its future editorial standards. Fazal has publicly defended his work and criticized the ABC’s decisions as a threat to journalistic independence, while critics have highlighted concerns about the reliability of his sources.
The ABC announced plans to review its editorial guidelines on the use of anonymous sources in response to the Fazal controversy, signaling a broader effort to reinforce its journalistic integrity moving forward.