New National Senator Barnaby Joyce is outraged a television series banned in Britain and New Zealand will be aired in Australia next week on Foxtel’s Comedy Channel.

Senator Joyce says ‘Popetown’, an animated ‘comedy’ show set in the Vatican, is highly offensive and has no place on Australian screens.

“The program is a huge insult to the Catholic Community and to all Christians, who have a great respect for the Papacy,” Senator Joyce said.

“There is a line between what’s considered satirical humour and what’s just offensive. ‘Popetown’ crosses that line.

“It shows a serious lack of respect for a key world figure and sets a terrible example for young Australians.

“If this is the standard of programming we can expect then I suggest we should be looking at our television licensing agreements and where we’re directing our funding.

“We need to raise the bar when it comes to media censorship and what we as Australians find acceptable as entertainment,” he said.