I disagree with Andrew Hastie on plenty politically, but Pauline Hanson’s attack on him is disgraceful. The cartoon, posted and pinned to Hanson’s own social media account, depicts Hastie as a “traitor” over the evidence he gave in the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case. That is not ordinary political criticism. It is an attack on the character, reputation and service of a former SAS officer who served this country in Afghanistan.
Hastie was subpoenaed to give evidence and, under oath, did what the law required of him. To portray that as betrayal is an extraordinary proposition. What exactly does Hanson believe he should have done: ignored a subpoena, refused to answer questions or lied under oath? Australians are entitled to disagree vehemently with Hastie’s politics, as I frequently do, but giving truthful evidence before a court is not treachery. It is an obligation under the rule of law.
Hanson has built much of her political persona around being someone who “tells it like it is”. Well, here she plainly is not. Hastie did not betray his country. He obeyed a subpoena and gave evidence under oath. Calling that treachery does not make Hanson fearless, outspoken or refreshingly politically incorrect. It simply makes the accusation false and grossly unfair.
Jacqui Lambie, herself a veteran, has cut through the political noise better than most, telling Hanson to “leave our veterans alone” and warning veterans considering supporting One Nation to “think twice”. She is right. This is bigger than whether you like Andrew Hastie, Pauline Hanson or Ben Roberts-Smith. It is about whether Australians who serve their country should be able to fulfil their legal obligations without having their loyalty and military service smeared for political purposes.
What makes this worse is Hanson’s response. Rather than recognise that she has crossed a line, she has doubled down. Her performance in the Chris Kenny interview, refusing to accept responsibility for a cartoon she authorised, voiced and continues to display prominently on her own account, demonstrated breathtaking arrogance.
And frankly, who does Pauline Hanson think she is to brand a decorated former SAS officer a traitor because he obeyed the law and gave evidence under oath? Political popularity does not confer moral authority, nor does a rising opinion poll give a politician licence to trash another person’s reputation.
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