ABC to send cease and desist letter to One Nation over Bluey cartoon

National broadcaster says party's use of the children's character in political material breaches its intellectual property

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published27 October 2026

Read Time1 min

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Australia's national broadcaster will send a cease and desist letter to the rightwing populist party One Nation after it used the children's character Bluey in a political cartoon depicting the character ramming politicians with an SUV.

ABC managing director Hugh Marks told Senate estimates on Tuesday that he became aware of One Nation's potential breach of intellectual property last week and sought legal advice. "We will be taking further action, I can assure you," he said.

The ABC has described the cartoon as "shocking and disrespectful". It says the depiction of Bluey, a globally beloved Australian children's character, repeatedly ramming politicians breaches the broadcaster's intellectual property rights.

The planned cease and desist letter signals the ABC intends to enforce its rights over the use of Bluey in political material, with Marks indicating further steps are to come.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The ABC is enforcing its intellectual property rights against a political party, turning a political cartoon into a legal dispute.
The case raises questions about where parody and political commentary sit against copyright in Australia.
Marks has promised further action, so the dispute may extend beyond a letter.

Background

Bluey is an Australian children's television series that has found a large international audience. The ABC is closely associated with the program and holds rights in it. One Nation is a rightwing populist Australian political party. The party's use of Bluey in a political cartoon has drawn the broadcaster's attention, leading to legal advice and the planned cease and desist letter.

What to Watch

Whether One Nation removes the cartoon or responds to the letter.
Whether the ABC follows through on its promise of further action, and in what form.
Whether the dispute prompts wider discussion of political parties using children's characters in political material.

Sources

ABC to demand rightwing One Nation party stop using Bluey in ‘shocking and disrespectful’ cartoon · The Guardian

Checked

9 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 6 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe ABC will send One Nation a cease-and-desist letter over its use of Bluey in a cartoon.Australia news | The Guardian: “Australia’s national broadcaster will send a cease and desist letter to the rightwing populist party One Nation for using Bluey in a “shocking and disrespectful” cartoon”
SupportedThe ABC says One Nation’s use of Bluey in political material breaches its intellectual property.Australia news | The Guardian: “Head of Australia’s national broadcaster says depiction of globally beloved character ramming politicians with a car breaches intellectual property”
SupportedThe cartoon depicts Bluey repeatedly ramming politicians with an SUV.Australia news | The Guardian: “the beloved character repeatedly ramming politicians with an SUV”
SupportedHugh Marks told Senate estimates on Tuesday that he learned of One Nation’s potential intellectual-property breach last week and sought legal advice.Australia news | The Guardian: “The ABC’s managing director, Hugh Marks, told Senate estimates on Tuesday he became aware of One Nation’s potential breach of intellectual property last week and sought legal advice.”
SupportedMarks said, “We will be taking further action, I can assure you.”Australia news | The Guardian: ““We will be taking further action, I can assure you,” he said.”
Partly supportedThe ABC described the cartoon as “shocking and disrespectful”.Australia news | The Guardian: “Australia’s national broadcaster will send a cease and desist letter to the rightwing populist party One Nation for using Bluey in a “shocking and disrespectful” cartoon”
Partly supportedBluey is a globally beloved Australian children’s character.Australia news | The Guardian: “Head of Australia’s national broadcaster says depiction of globally beloved character ramming politicians with a car breaches intellectual property”
Partly supportedThe planned letter shows the ABC intends to enforce its rights over Bluey’s use in political material.Australia news | The Guardian: “Australia’s national broadcaster will send a cease and desist letter to the rightwing populist party One Nation for using Bluey in a “shocking and disrespectful” cartoon”
SupportedMarks indicated further steps are to come.Australia news | The Guardian: ““We will be taking further action, I can assure you,” he said.”