‘I do apologise’: Pauline Hanson’s major U-turn on Jacqui Lambie cartoon

Pauline Hanson has backed down over a video mocking Jacqui Lambie’s health condition after previously telling her colleague in the senate to “lighten up”.

The One Nation leader was widely criticised after her cartoon series used Lambie’s emotional speech revealing she had a vaginal and bladder prolapse in August as a punchline.

It was accompanied by a crude sound effect that ridiculed Lambie’s condition, which the Tasmanian received in direct relation to injuries she suffered during her service in the army.

She was forced to take five months of leave from parliament following surgery.

While Lambie and cross-party politicians criticised the video, saying it should be removed, Hanson told them to “get over it”.

“It is actually satirical, and I think she’s taken to heart, and which she shouldn’t be,” Hanson told reporters in Hobart on Monday.

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“Have a good look at it, have a bit of a laugh, Jacqui, and lighten up.”

But by Tuesday, Hanson changed her tune and said the video had been published without her seeing it.

“I was not aware of the content of the video,” she told News24.

“I have spoken to the creator of that video. I’ve asked him to actually change it, and I respect people’s views and opinions out there.

“It wasn’t as tastefully done as it could have been, and I do apologise for that.”

Hanson said she will take closer looks over her controversial series, saying it does bear her name and she does take responsibility for it.

Lambie said that speaking openly about her experience was not an invitation to be mocked or degraded.

“By making this cartoon, One Nation didn’t just make light of my own medical struggles, but those of so many other women who have experienced reproductive health issues,” she said in a statement on Monday.

“I spoke about my own battle in parliament, not to get sympathy as One Nation may suggest, but to let other women know they are not alone.

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“One in two women who have had a baby experience some level of pelvic organ prolapse. It is common and nobody should be embarrassed to talk about it.”

Other politicians jumped to the senator’s defence, saying she should not be mocked for her health condition.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said Lambie’s openness about her condition has raised awareness.

“So, for her to be mocked by One Nation just shows, quite frankly, what they stand for,” he said.

“The people behind this should really have a hard look at themselves and should reflect on their values.”

Independent MP Monique Ryan said: “One Jacqui Lambie is worth 1000 Pauline Hansons.”

“She’s talked about an awkward subject to make it easier for other affected women. Pauline Hanson thinks that’s worth making fun of.”

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Labor MP Kara Cook similarly said One Nation’s cartoon is “personal humiliation dressed up as political commentary”.

“Politics can be tough without being cruel. We can disagree without being disrespectful,” she said.

In September, the One Nation series came under fire after it repeatedly labelled Liberal MP Andrew Hastie a “traitor”.

A war of words erupted between the pair as Hastie demanded an apology and the episode be taken down from the “weak and glass-jawed” Hanson but the One Nation leader refused to do so.

Hastie was once again featured in the latest episode that mocked Lambie, with him depicted saying: “I’m a veteran. I’m immune from criticism.”