ABC targets One Nation over Bluey

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation is preparing to send a cease and desist letter to One Nation regarding a political cartoon that features the character Bluey. Managing director Hugh Marks informed Senate estimates on Tuesday that the broadcaster intends to take further action against the right-wing populist party. He stated that the legal dispute stems from a video that has accumulated 1.3 million views on YouTube.

Marks revealed that the ABC first identified the potential breach of intellectual property rights last week. Following that discovery, the broadcaster sought legal counsel to determine the next steps in the dispute. The issue was raised during the hearing by Senator Varun Ghosh, the chair of the communications committee. He asked if the ABC had consulted lawyers about the 2024 animation titled State of Melbourne.

Ghosh noted that the cartoon, while published two years ago, gained renewed attention in the past week. The timing coincides with events surrounding independent MP Helen Haines, who lost both legs following an attack outside her office in northern Victoria. The senator suggested the video had a particular relevance to the current political climate. Marks agreed, describing the use of the character as a clear violation of intellectual property.

The ABC has contacted BBC Studios, the international distributor for Bluey, as well as Ludo, the Brisbane-based creative studio behind the show. Marks confirmed that One Nation never requested permission to use the character in the animation. He emphasized that the video is not a parody of any existing Bluey work. He characterized the usage as a shocking and disrespectful treatment of what he called Australia's most loved character.

In the three-minute video, Bluey drives an SUV and strikes animated figures of former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and conservationist Robert Irwin. One scene shows Andrews driving and Albanese as a passenger. The vehicle runs over the animated figures of Bluey and Irwin. The politicians are then depicted placing the bodies in the trunk of the SUV. Before being hit by the car, the animated Albanese tells Bluey that she has a crazy look in her eyes.

Marks stated that the party's use of the character was both shocking and disrespectful to the children of Australia who follow the show. He indicated that a formal legal notice would be issued to One Nation. The BBC, Ludo, and One Nation were approached for comment on the matter. The hearing took place a week after the incident involving Helen Haines, adding context to the renewed scrutiny of the cartoon.

During the same session, Marks discussed other administrative matters at the ABC. He explained that former news director Justin Stevens received a termination payout of $353,230. Marks said he chose to pay Stevens his contractual entitlement rather than have him work out his notice period. This decision was made to allow the broadcaster to move forward with new leadership after a 19-year tenure by Stevens.

Stevens was replaced last month by Simon Robinson, a former Reuters executive. Stevens' total remuneration for the financial year was $864,394, with a base salary of $529,202. Marks also addressed concerns regarding former Four Corners reporter Mahmood Fazal. He stated that mistakes were found in the production of several programs by Fazal. The ABC has since removed specific episodes due to concerns over the use of anonymous interviewees.

Marks said the entire leadership of Four Corners had been replaced to address these issues. The broadcaster is currently reviewing its editorial guidance on anonymous sources. Former executive producer Sally Neighbour alleged in The Monthly that an associate of Fazal played different roles in various stories. Fazal has maintained that he stands by his reporting and described the removal of episodes as a worrying precedent for the organization's independence.