Andrew Hastie served in Afghanistan twice and has attracted the ire of One Nation and Pauline Hanson’s billionaire backer, Gina Rinehart, after he gave evidence against Ben Roberts-Smith in a failed defamation case against Nine newspapers. Photograph: Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenAndrew Hastie served in Afghanistan twice and has attracted the ire of One Nation and Pauline Hanson’s billionaire backer, Gina Rinehart, after he gave evidence against Ben Roberts-Smith in a failed defamation case against Nine newspapers. Photograph: Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty ImagesAndrew Hastie accuses Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce of being ‘lying cowards’ over One Nation ‘traitor’ cartoonThe Canning MP says the cartoon, first posted by Hanson on social media over a month ago, calls him a traitor eight times
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Liberal frontbencher and SAS veteran Andrew Hastie has called Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce “lying cowards”, after he claimed a One Nation cartoon portrayed him as a traitor for providing evidence in court against Ben Roberts-Smith.
Hastie further escalated his fight with One Nation on Wednesday, a day after the Canning MP used a letter to supporters to promise to take on Hanson and her chief strategist, James Ashby, directly – even hinting at costly court action.
Hastie told News24 the One Nation cartoon, first posted by Hanson on social media over a month ago and now pinned to the top of her X account, called him a traitor eight times.
“I would say that Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce are lying cowards, and I’ll say it again, so there’s no ambiguity,” he said.
“They are lying cowards … when you start calling me a traitor to my own country, then we have a big, big problem.”
The animated video, called “Don’t be Hastie”, depicts Hastie asking Anthony Albanese for help after people called him a traitor online. When Albanese asks Hastie why people are calling him a traitor, Hastie responds: “I don’t know, all I did was testify against Ben Roberts-Smith and support your evil hate speech legislation.” It has had more than 145,000 views on YouTube.
Hastie served in Afghanistan twice and has attracted the ire of One Nation and Hanson’s billionaire backer, Gina Rinehart, after he gave evidence against Roberts-Smith, the Victoria Cross recipient, in Roberts-Smith’s failed defamation case against Nine newspapers.
Hanson and Rinehart, as well as the former prime minister Tony Abbott, say Roberts-Smith is being unfairly targeted over war crimes allegations related to his service in Afghanistan, between 2009-2012.
The 47-year-old has been charged with five counts of the war crime of murder but strongly denies the allegations.
“Are they saying the same thing of the other 20 SAS combat veterans who gave evidence under oath in the federal court?” Hastie asked.
“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.
“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.”
Hastie pointed out than Hanson and Joyce had “never, ever served a day in our uniform overseas on operations”.
“They don’t get to define Anzac Day, or Anzac, or the values that underpin our defence force.”
Hanson denied ever calling Hastie a traitor, telling the Nightly: “I will call him a wanker.”
Joyce told Guardian Australia he has never called Hastie a traitor, “nor ventured anywhere close to any such narrative about him”.
“In fact I have never said a bad word about him,” he said.
Read more“This morning in a press conference at Canberra I spoke in support of Mr Hastie and his family. When asked, I noted the fact that Ms Hanson stated she had never called Mr Hastie a traitor. This is now apparent as a fact.
“There has come to my attention now a satirical cartoon that made the claim. I had not seen it nor was aware of it.”
Hastie, the shadow minister for industry and sovereign capability, 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 the Western Australian seat of Secret Harbour, which overlaps Hastie’s federal electorate of Canning.
The party has flagged a major challenge to oust Hastie at the next election. Hastie is considered the leading alternative to opposition leader, Angus Taylor, but opted not to contest a leadership race earlier this year.
