One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has a bit of a recipe now when it comes to raising money - and it seems to be working for her.
Last month, Senator Hanson announced she'd be releasing a line of rum in order to fund her satirical cartoon series, Please Explain.
"Get ready to be entertained and informed..." a statement promoting the rum started. "Help us continue to bring this important series to the public by purchasing a bottle of our limited edition and specially crafted, premium Queensland rum."
In the series, caricatures of politicians feature in skits that paint Senator Hanson in a flattering light. The episodes appear on the same YouTube channel where Senator Hanson disseminates other party messages. Episodes of the animation are among her most-watched videos, with tens of thousands of views.
Senator Hanson has released two limited edition versions of the Please Explain rum and says sales will keep the series going. For a signed Director's Batch bottle, it's $150 dollars a pop. The Collectors edition will be sold for $100. She's hoping to sell 15,000 bottles of the Collectors edition and 5,000 bottles of the Director's Batch.
If all bottles sell, Senator Hanson would bring in $2.25 million, although it's unclear how much of that would be profit.
On Twitter, one Australian asked how One Nation could issue a criticising the alleged price increase of schooners, and then ask people to pay $150 for bottles less than a week later.
"While complaining about the cost of beer & claiming that schooners are now $12 (really, where?) Pauline Hanson is simultaneously selling bottles of her signature Please Explain Rum for $150 each purportedly to fund more episodes of cartoon she appears in and voices," he said in a tweet.
Gin sales helped fund One Nation's election campaign
To raise funds for last year's federal election campaign, Senator Hanson released a line of gin.
In a statement released with the spirit, she said: "I make no apologies for the fundraising efforts I'm undertaking to help One Nation compete in this upcoming federal election.
An episode of Please Explain was pulled from YouTube after it was reported by the AEC for disinformation. Credit: Pauline Hanson's Please Explain/YouTube
Senator Hanson released 5000 bottles of the Please Explain Aussie Spirit gin at the time and The Feed understands all bottles were sold.
Among her other "merch drops" displayed on the One Nation website are stubby coolers, including one which says: "This is for the gender-neutral w**kers." There are also a number of stickers for sale pushing One Nation's "Vote NO" campaign against a Voice to Parliament.
A "MAKE COAL GREAT AGAIN" cap and One Nation Christmas wrapping paper are also among the "popular items".
Episodes of Pauline Hanson's Please Explain series pulled for disinformation
Although 28 episodes of the Please Explain series were released, 9 have been removed by owners of Senator Hanson's official YouTube channel after being posted. The Feed is seeking comment from One Nation on why they were removed.
One episode was pulled from Facebook, YouTube and TikTok last April after the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) reported the video to the platforms for disinformation.
The episode of the animated skit features Foreign Minister Penny Wong promoting the use of fake postal ballots to then-Opposition leader Anthony Albanese.
In the video, the character impersonating Senator Wong says the AEC doesn't require people's IDs when they vote "because that would be racist".
Within a few hours, the AEC had responded to the video posted on Senator Hanson's Twitter account, calling it "disappointing".
A screenshot from the episode of Please Explain which was reported by the AEC. Credit: Pauline Hanson's Please Explain/YouTube
In the same episode which falsely made claims of voter fraud, a COVID-stricken Mr Albanese is seen eating bat soup.
The clip is referencing the false claim from the early stages of the pandemic about the origins of the virus.
Dr Kruger said these videos were used to fuel racism and intolerance towards the Chinese community.
"It’s very easy to say, ‘Oh it’s just satire, it’s a joke’, but there are serious issues that have been ignored," Dr Kruger added.
