One Nation leader refuses to remove demeaning cartoon as Senator Thorpe condemns violent rhetoric
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Senator Lidia Thorpe blasted Pauline Hanson for refusing to take down a cartoon showing Thorpe being run over by a bus, while AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett warned that inflammatory political language can fuel violent threats.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson defended a cartoon that shows independent Senator Lidia Thorpe being run over by a bus, despite fierce criticism from the senator and calls for the image to be removed. The episode comes against the grim backdrop of a recent car-ramming incident involving independent MP Helen Haines.
In a Monday interview with radio station 2GB, Hanson said she would not apologise for the 2023 cartoon episode, dismissing concerns and insisting the images would not be taken down. She also accused AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett of deflecting responsibility for protecting Australians, while pointing to threats made against her.
"Look, this woman’s on the floor of parliament … You should see the hatred coming out of her mouth," Hanson said.
"You’ve got kids out there on streets with ‘kill Pauline Hanson’. ‘I hate Pauline Hanson’, ‘shoot Pauline Hanson’. What does the commissioner do about that? Absolutely nothing," Hanson added.
Senator Thorpe responded by urging Hanson to think about the example she is setting and stressing that jokes about violence, especially against women, are completely unacceptable.
"Making light of violence, particularly against women in this country, is a problem. It’s not something anyone should be joking about," Thorpe told the publication.
Thorpe also said she had reported multiple death threats posted on One Nation’s social media pages that remained unmoderated for months, calling for real accountability.
AFP Commissioner Barrett earlier urged politicians to speak carefully, linking inflammatory content to an increase in violent threats. The speaker of the House, Milton Dick, reminded parliamentarians of their responsibility to lead by example and to engage in respectful disagreement.
The incident occurs as parliament pays tribute to MP Helen Haines, who is recovering in hospital after being struck by a car in Wangaratta.