A bitter political feud has erupted in Australia after opposition frontbencher Andrew Hastie launched a blistering attack on Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce, branding them “lying cowards” amid growing controversy over a One Nation video that repeatedly labels him a “traitor.”
The dispute centers on a satirical One Nation cartoon that criticizes Hastie’s involvement in the high-profile Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case. The video repeatedly uses the word “traitor” in reference to the former SAS officer, prompting Hastie to demand that Senator Hanson and former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce either publicly stand by the accusation or remove the content altogether.
Hastie, who served in Afghanistan with the Australian Special Air Service Regiment, was subpoenaed to provide evidence during the 2022 defamation trial involving decorated veteran Ben Roberts-Smith. He has consistently defended his decision to testify, arguing that it was in accordance with the rule of law and the professional standards expected of Australian military personnel.
In a strongly worded email sent to supporters, Hastie declared that One Nation had “picked a fight with the wrong veteran,” signaling his intention to challenge the party over what he sees as a damaging and unfair attack on his character.
Pauline Hanson, however, has rejected claims that she personally called Hastie a traitor. Speaking to media outlets, the One Nation leader insisted she had “never called him a traitor,” although she did not hold back in her criticism of the Liberal MP, saying she would “call him a wanker.” Hanson later dismissed the controversy as an overreaction, describing it as “a mountain out of a molehill.”
Defending the video, Hanson argued that it was clearly intended as satire and not a literal accusation of betraying the nation. She reiterated that she had never described Hastie as a traitor to Australia and said there were no plans to remove the cartoon from circulation. Instead, she encouraged members of the public to view the content themselves and judge it independently.
In a strongly worded email sent to supporters, Hastie declared that One Nation had “picked a fight with the wrong veteran,” signaling his intention to challenge the party over what he sees as a damaging and unfair attack on his character.
Pauline Hanson, however, has rejected claims that she personally called Hastie a traitor. Speaking to media outlets, the One Nation leader insisted she had “never called him a traitor,” although she did not hold back in her criticism of the Liberal MP, saying she would “call him a wanker.” Hanson later dismissed the controversy as an overreaction, describing it as “a mountain out of a molehill.”
Defending the video, Hanson argued that it was clearly intended as satire and not a literal accusation of betraying the nation. She reiterated that she had never described Hastie as a traitor to Australia and said there were no plans to remove the cartoon from circulation. Instead, she encouraged members of the public to view the content themselves and judge it independently.
+ There are no comments
Add yours