Australian Teachers Hijack Bluey and Powerpuff Girls for Radical Antisemitic Propaganda
An investigation reveals NSW activist teachers shared unauthorized lesson guides using characters like Bluey and the Powerpuff Girls to promote pro-Palestinian and "global intifada" messaging.
A group of activist teachers in New South Wales has been circulating unauthorized teaching materials that pair beloved children's cartoon characters with pro-Palestinian political messaging, according to an investigation published today (Sunday) by The Daily Telegraph.
The 24-page lesson guide, shared privately among members of Teachers for Palestine NSW and Victoria through platforms like WhatsApp, features characters including Bluey, Miffy, and the Powerpuff Girls alongside slogans such as "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," "Resist to exist," and "Resistance justified."
The materials also include praise for Leila Khaled, a senior member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, highlighting her wearing of the keffiyeh as a symbol of resistance. The PFLP is designated as a terrorist organization by Australia, the United States, the European Union, and Canada. Khaled participated in airplane hijackings in 1969 and 1970 and has publicly called Hamas operatives behind the October 7, 2023 attacks "freedom fighters."
Some materials reference or encourage what the guide describes as a "global intifada."
The NSW Department of Education moved quickly to distance itself from the materials, stating they are not endorsed and "must not be used in classes." The department said it rejects all forms of racism and is working on anti-antisemitism training.
Education Minister Prue Car issued a statement saying, "Anti-Semitism and hate have no place in our schools." She emphasized that any targeting of students or staff based on identity will not be tolerated.
Jewish community leaders responded with alarm. Representatives from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and the National Council of Jewish Women condemned the materials as indoctrination, calling them "sickening" and a safety risk for Jewish students and teachers. They called for action against teachers who bring such materials into classrooms.
Teachers for Palestine defended the lesson guide, saying the materials are intended to teach about "resistance to racism and genocide" and that the group proudly supports "global intifada" as an anti-racist movement.
The controversy reflects ongoing tensions in Australian schools since the October 7, 2023 attacks, with reports of rising antisemitic incidents alongside complaints of anti-Palestinian racism. The use of popular children's characters to convey political messages has particularly alarmed parents and educators.
The materials are not part of the official NSW curriculum but were being shared among activist educators through private channels.