Liberal MP Andrew Hastie, in Parliament House, said he was “calling time on cowards who have never served a day in the Australian Defence Force”. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPView image in fullscreenLiberal MP Andrew Hastie, in Parliament House, said he was “calling time on cowards who have never served a day in the Australian Defence Force”. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPAndrew Hastie threatens One Nation with ‘costly’ fight over claims he is a ‘traitor’ to AustraliaLiberal MP says One Nation is trying to unseat him because he gave evidence against Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith
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Andrew Hastie has threatened Pauline Hanson and One Nation strategist James Ashby with a “costly” fight over claims he is a traitor to Australia, labelling his critics “cowards” who don’t believe in the rule of law.
In some of the Liberal MP’s strongest comments yet about attacks from Hanson and her insurgent party, the Liberal MP said One Nation was trying to unseat him at the next election because he gave evidence against Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith in a failed defamation case against the Nine newspapers.
Roberts-Smith has been charged over war crimes allegations related to his service in Afghanistan, but One Nation and the party’s billionaire backer, Gina Rinehart, claim he is being unfairly prosecuted.
“I won’t take any more slander from One Nation,” Hastie said in an email to supporters on Tuesday.
“I believe in the rule of law, so I complied with the subpoena rather than be found in contempt. I gave evidence under oath, before God.
“For that, I’ve been called a rat, a traitor, a dog c—, and many other things. People I trusted have walked away from me or failed to defend me.”
Hastie strongly defended his war service as a captain in the SAS, and called out Hanson and One Nation for not supporting efforts to hold Australian soldiers to high standards of battlefield conduct.
“Now I’m calling time on cowards who have never served a day in the Australian Defence Force attacking my service record, my integrity, and my loyalty to Australia,” he said.
“I deployed twice on combat operations to Afghanistan. I left my wife at home, knowing that I might not return. And then to be called a traitor by One Nation … well, they’ve picked a fight with the wrong veteran.”
Hastie even flagged possible legal action against Hanson and Ashby, the party’s director.
“So, if Pauline Hanson and James Ashby want to come after me, I will make it a very costly exercise in time, money, and political capital,” he wrote.
Hastie has spoken publicly about a campaign of threats and abuse targeting him and his family. The federal government boosted security around his home and office earlier this year.
One Nation won this month’s state byelection in Western Australian seat of Secret Harbour, which overlaps with Hastie’s electorate of Canning.
The party has flagged a strong campaign in Canning at the next federal election, due in 2028.
Hastie is considered the leading alternative to opposition leader, Angus Taylor. He opted not to face off with Taylor in a leadership race earlier this year.
He could also benefit from a looming opposition frontbench reshuffle, prompted by the upcoming retirement of shadow home affairs minister, Jonno Duniam. Duniam said at the weekend he would quit parliament in the “next month or two”.
Taylor told Liberal MPs in Canberra on Tuesday that One Nation was “unfit to govern the country.”
He said serious questions had been raised about the party’s Victorian leader, Warren Pickering. Pickering’s former partner this week alleged he had a history of heavy drug use.
Hanson said this week Pickering had denied the allegations and that she was “happy” with him as Victorian leader.
