{
  "id": 13852295,
  "title": "One Nation Vic deputy denies AI-generated campaign video was racist",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/one-nation-vic-deputy-denies-ai-generated-campaign-video-was-racist",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-12T02:25:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-12/one-nation-denies-victorian-election-campaign-video-racist/107254888"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Colleen Harkin, deputy leader of One Nation in Victoria, denied allegations that an AI-generated campaign video featuring a young African man wielding a machete and a Middle Eastern-suicide bomber was racist. During an interview with 774 ABC Melbourne, Ms Harkin stated that she did not accept the premise that the video was racist and that the clip addressed major issues facing Australia. She claimed that climate change was irrelevant to the nation's economy and that One Nation was committed to rescinding Victoria's landmark Treaty. The video, displayed at the party's Victorian election campaign launch, sparked controversy, including a dispute between a Tasmanian cafe owner and Pauline Hanson's daughter, both of whom found the clip offensive. When questioned about the video, Ms Harkin argued that it addressed crime and social cohesion concerns in the state. One Nation's federal MP Barnaby Joyce also acknowledged crime as a significant issue in Victoria. Ms Harkin emphasized that her values and principles had not changed since her time as a Liberal member, but she remained open to learning from her Liberal contacts. When asked about her stance on climate change, Ms Harkin stated that she believed climate change was a natural occurrence rather than a result of human activity.",
  "summary": "One Nation's Victorian deputy leader has defended an AI-generated campaign video featuring a suicide bomber and a home invader, denying it was racist.",
  "key_points": [
    "Deputy leader Colleen Harkin denied video was racist",
    "Video addressed crime and social cohesion in Victoria",
    "Harkin sees climate change as natural, not human-caused"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The refusal to acknowledge the offensive nature of the AI-generated imagery signals a party strategy that prioritizes provocative social commentary over concerns regarding racial sensitivity in digital campaigning.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}