One Nation leader digs in on provocative cartoons as parliament weighs civility after attack on independent MP
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Senator Pauline Hanson says her "Please Explain" cartoons will stay online, even as other parliamentarians move to sign a civility pledge following the assault on independent MP Helen Haines.
Senator Pauline Hanson, leader of One Nation, has declared on social media that the party's "Please Explain" satirical videos will remain available, despite sharp criticism from other federal politicians. Hanson argued that the cartoons have nothing to do with the recent assault on independent MP Helen Haines, and accused Labor and the Coalition of trying to exploit the incident to silence criticism and shield themselves from scrutiny.
"Free speech, satire, criticism and debate are essential to our democracy. They must be protected," Hanson wrote.
The cartoons, which list Hanson as a producer, have repeatedly drawn scrutiny for crossing basic lines of decency, including depicting Liberal MP Andrew Hastie as a traitor and mocking the health issues of independent Senator Jacqui Lambie, who is also a veteran. Earlier illustrations also showed a caricature of Hanson driving a bus over independent Indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe.
In response to the attack on Dr. Haines, several parliamentarians intend to sign a "civility pledge" modeled on a similar UK initiative after the murder of MP Jo Cox. The pledge reads: "In my political life, I pledge to act with honesty, respect and compassion." Independent MP Kate Chaney, who signed the pledge, told ABC Radio National that participation is voluntary and noted that Haines was the first federal MP to sign it.
The pledge and the continuing dispute point to a wider struggle over whether Australian politics can protect free expression without normalising abuse, cruelty and escalating hostility.