Liberal MP Andrew Hastie has vowed to go “all the way” in his escalating fight with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, while suggesting that fellow MPs Barnaby Joyce and David Farley are likely experiencing “buyers’ remorse” over their decision to join the party.
Hastie, a former SAS captain, reiterated his accusation that Hanson is a “lying coward” during an interview with News24 on Sunday, following her continued refusal to remove an animated cartoon that labels him a “traitor.” The video emerged after Hastie was subpoenaed to give evidence in Ben Roberts-Smith’s failed defamation trial.
Hastie’s challenge to Hanson
“She’s still a lying coward. I’m not backing down,” Hastie said. “I put the challenge to her. She could have accepted that she’d got it wrong and pulled it down, but she refused to do so, and she has doubled down.”
Hastie added: “As I said to Barnaby in text, I will continue. Consider last week a demonstration. They haven’t seen anything yet. I’ll go all the way with One Nation if they want … she started a fight, and I intend to win it.”
He also revealed that he had previously attempted to build a working relationship with Hanson, but that she is “not the person I thought she was.”
Joyce and Farley under scrutiny
Hastie accepted Joyce’s apology on Friday, in which Joyce claimed he had not seen the cartoon before it was published. However, the Liberal MP suggested that Joyce and Farley may be questioning their decision to join One Nation.
“The whole party centres on her. I think this is why Barnaby Joyce and I reckon David Farley are probably having buyers’ remorse. They’re thinking, what did I get myself into?” Hastie said.
“I’ll say this about Barnaby Joyce. I feel sorry for the bloke, all right? He left a party that made him deputy prime minister twice, to jump in with this rabble, there’s no principles, they’re all over the shop, and he’s out there every week cleaning up after them.”
In response, Joyce told Guardian Australia that the assumption was “not correct” and defended his party.
“My fear is that the Coalition tread water rather than find land, and lack the strength to make difficult decisions. Politics is not a beauty pageant nor a reality tv show and we get more and more of that,” Joyce said. “I am in One Nation because I am deeply concerned that the political status quo has become lazy and then weak.”
Farley has been approached for comment.
Political context and leadership speculation
Hastie has faced political attacks from One Nation for several months, with the party announcing it would target his West Australian seat of Canning. The state seat of Secret Harbour, which One Nation won in a byelection last month, overlaps his federal electorate.
He said it was time to “draw a line in the sand” by pushing back against the video. “Weakness is provocative,” he said. “People want strength. These guys thought I was weak.”
Hastie, who has been touted as a potential leadership contender, also dismissed Hanson’s accusation that his fight against her was designed to boost his leadership prospects. “I think that’s ridiculous. Angus Taylor is the leader. I’ve supported him. Judge me by my actions, and I’ve shown loyalty to Angus since he became leader.”
