Full Breakdown
Lidia Thorpe Rebukes Pauline Hanson Over Defiant “Bus-Attack” Cartoon
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Cartoon Controversy Escalates
On October 26, 2026, independent senator Lidia Thorpe publicly condemned One Nation leader Pauline Hanson for refusing to remove two cartoons that depict Thorpe being run over by a bus. Hanson posted on X on the preceding Sunday that the images “will not be going anywhere” and reiterated her stance in a 2GB interview, arguing the material is satirical.
Background & Context – Prior Cartoons and Recent Violence
The dispute follows a series of politically charged cartoons circulating on One Nation platforms. Earlier in 2023, a cartoon titled “Under the Bus” featured a similar theme. In the weeks before Thorpe’s rebuke, independent MP Helen Haines was physically attacked in Wangaratta, and One Nation’s Barnaby Joyce apologized for a separate cartoon mocking Tasmanian senator Jacquie Lambie’s vaginal prolapse. One Nation MP Andrew Hastie was also labelled a traitor in a different clip linked to the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case. AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett warned that inflamed rhetoric can fuel violent threats, urging politicians to speak carefully.
Official Statements & Responses
- Pauline Hanson defended the cartoons, stating, “Look, this woman’s on the floor of parliament … You should see the hatred coming out of her mouth,” and added that critics should not blame her for that the commissioner does.
- She also reported that death threats posted on Hanson’s social-media pages had remained unmoderated for months.
- Krissy Barrett linked the proliferation of such cartoons to a rise in violent threats, urging politicians to moderate their language.
- Milton Dick, Speaker of the House, reminded parliamentarians that they have a responsibility to lead by example.
Criticism & Opposition
Thorpe’s criticism highlights concerns that satirical depictions of violence may normalize threats against female politicians. She urged Hanson to reflect on her leadership qualities and the potential impact of “jokes about violence.” The incident has reignited calls for a parliamentary civility pledge, with several MPs signing a statement urging restraint in political satire.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Look, this woman’s on the floor of parliament … You should see the hatred coming out of her mouth,” — Pauline Hanson
- “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,” — Pauline Hanson