Liberal MP Andrew Hastie has warned Pauline Hanson and One Nation strategist James Ashby of a “costly” fight over claims he is a traitor to Australia, vowing to defend his war service and integrity. In an email to supporters on Tuesday, Hastie said he would no longer tolerate “slander” from One Nation, which he accused of attacking him because he gave evidence against Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith in a failed defamation case.
Hastie's Defence of His War Service
Hastie, a former SAS captain who deployed twice on combat operations to Afghanistan, strongly rejected the accusations. “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,” he wrote.
He also criticised 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,” Hastie said.
Background: Roberts-Smith Case and One Nation's Campaign
One Nation and its billionaire backer Gina Rinehart claim Roberts-Smith is being unfairly prosecuted over war crimes allegations related to his service in Afghanistan. Hastie gave evidence in Roberts-Smith's failed defamation case against Nine newspapers, complying with a subpoena. “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,” he said.
Hastie has spoken publicly about a campaign of threats and abuse targeting him and his family, leading the federal government to boost security around his home and office earlier this year.
Political Implications and Next Steps
One Nation won this month’s state byelection in the 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, considered the leading alternative to opposition leader Angus Taylor, opted not to challenge 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, who 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,” citing serious questions about the party’s Victorian leader Warren Pickering, whose former partner this week alleged he had a history of heavy drug use. Hanson said Pickering had denied the allegations and that she was “happy” with him as Victorian leader.
