Hanson hits back after AFP chief’s cartoon claims
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says the party’s controversial cartoons “will not be going anywhere”.
Source: ABC TV
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has rejected any link between the party’s controversial cartoons and increasing security threats against politicians.
It comes after Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett drew a direct link between political rhetoric and threats and abuse being directed at leaders.
Barrett said there was no doubt the threat environment had changed for politicians.
“When I start work every morning, one of the first things I do is read a report … [that] summarises all of the threats that have been reported to the AFP over the last 24 hours,” she told the ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday.
“Some days that report is pages and pages long.”
Past One Nation cartoons depicting political figures, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, being hit by cars or buses have resurfaced in the days since the alleged attack on Indi MP Helen Haines.
One Nation has defended its cartoons depicting politicians being hit by cars. Photo: One Nation
Haines was allegedly struck by a four-wheel drive on the main street of the Victorian town of Wangaratta last Monday. She had both legs amputated and remains in hospital.
Barrett said there was “a reaction amongst the community” to material such as the cartoons.
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She was asked about a One Nation cartoon depicting former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews being run over by cartoon character Bluey.
“We do see examples where there are particular announcements or things like you’ve just described, [where] there is a reaction,” she said.
“My hope is that this really causes people to pause and have a think about what’s happening in this country and the impact of that.
“If this is not the incident, then what is?”
Another cartoon from 2023 shows Hanson running over Senator Lidia Thorpe with a bus.
Hanson accused the Labor and Liberal parties of trying to “censor” One Nation’s cartoons and vowed that the Please Explain videos “will not be going anywhere”.
“Liberal and Labor politicians want our cartoons censored because they don’t like the scrutiny” she posted to X on Sunday night.
“Free speech, satire, criticism and debate are essential to our democracy. They must be protected.
“Those seeking to exploit this tragedy to silence their critics should be ashamed of themselves.
“What happened to Helen is heartbreaking. Politicians deserve to be safe. So does every other Australian.
“When violence touches politicians, the response is immediate: more security, more protection and demands for action. Where is that same urgency when ordinary Australians are attacked?”
Barrett said she wasn’t interested in policing free speech or intervening in political discourse.
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“But I would challenge any Australian to read some of these threats and some of the abuse that is reported to us from federal parliamentarians and for anyone to argue that that is free speech or political discourse,” she said.
The move from sending of physical hate mail to online threats had played a significant role in the increasing volume of worrying material, while also highlighting the influence of inflammatory political imagery and language.
“We do see where there is particular political conflict or discourse occurring … it does have a direct correlation to what we see in terms of threats and abuse, and sometimes it’s very immediate,” Barrett said.
The AFP, which is responsible for protecting federal politicians and office-holders, has held emergency safety briefings with parliamentarians since Monday.
Male and female MPs were targeted equally with threats and abuse, Barrett said. Women were more often singled out individually, often with threats of sexual violence.
Federal MPs from across the political spectrum have acknowledged the difficulty in balancing their personal security and access to voters.
“As a local MP, I don’t want to stop going to community events,” Liberal frontbencher Ted O’Brien told News24 on Sunday.
“That open access is a cornerstone of democracy. We’re particularly good at it in Australia. We can’t take away grassroots politics.”
Labor minister Catherine King said she had contended with the deteriorating safety for some time.
“It is when, not if, that something will happen to one of us and we’ve been saying that certainly for the last five years or so,” she said.
“I had a mobile caravan for almost 25 years. I don’t use that now because it doesn’t have a second exit point.
“If someone did kick off and I’m trapped in the van, it’s very hard to deal with that.”
Parliament will mark a solemn start to the sitting week on Monday as politicians pay tribute to Haines.
Albanese will deliver a speech to parliament, reflecting on the alleged assault and its impact, and invite colleagues to do the same.
-with AAP
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