ABC to send cease and desist letter over $1.3 million view Bluey cartoon

ABC managing director Hugh Marks announced on Tuesday that the broadcaster intends to send a cease and desist letter to the One Nation party. The legal notice addresses a 2024 political cartoon that depicts the children's character Bluey in a violent scene. The video, titled State of Melbourne, has accumulated 1.3 million views on YouTube. Marks described the use of the character as shocking and disrespectful to the children who follow the series.

The issue arose during a Senate estimates hearing. Western Australian Labor senator Varun Ghosh, who chairs the communications committee, asked if the ABC had sought legal advice regarding the animation. Ghosh noted that while the video was published two years ago, the timing feels particularly poignant this week. That week marked one year since independent MP Helen Haines was attacked outside her electorate office in northern Victoria, an incident that left her without both legs.

Marks stated that he learned of the possible intellectual property breach last week. He confirmed that the ABC has contacted Bluey's international distributor, BBC Studios, and its Brisbane-based creators, Ludo. According to Marks, Pauline Hanson's party never sought permission to use the character. He characterized the use as a clear breach of intellectual property rights. The BBC, Ludo, and One Nation have been approached for comment on the matter.

Marks argued that the animation is not a parody of any existing Bluey work. He stated that the use is not a minor infringement but a major one. He called the character the most loved in the world in a video format. The three-minute animation shows Bluey driving an SUV into depictions of former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and TV host Robert Irwin. In one scene, the Albanese character tells Bluey, 'You've got that crazy look in your eyes.' In another, Andrews and Albanese are shown placing the bodies of the characters in the boot of the car.

The hearing also covered financial matters regarding former news director Justin Stevens. Marks said Stevens received a termination payout of $353,230 because the ABC did not want him to work out his notice period. Stevens was replaced last month by Reuters executive Simon Robinson after 19 years at the broadcaster. Stevens' total remuneration for the financial year was $864,394, with a base salary of $529,202.

Marks also addressed issues with former Four Corners reporter Mahmood Fazal. He said mistakes were made in programs produced by Fazal and that the program's entire leadership has now been replaced. The ABC removed several programs made by Fazal over concerns about his use of anonymous interviewees. Marks stated that a review found substantial flaws in much of Fazal's work. The broadcaster is currently reviewing its editorial guidance on anonymous sources.

Former Four Corners executive producer Sally Neighbour alleged in the Monthly that an associate of Fazal played different roles in different stories while disguised behind a mask. Fazal has said he stands by his reporting. In July, he said he was shocked by the removal of two episodes. He believed the ABC's decisions set a worrying precedent for the organization's independence and commitment to public-interest journalism.