Senator Jacqui Lambie has launched a blistering attack on One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, branding her a “coward” amid a deepening political firestorm over a controversial animated video targeting Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie.
The feud erupted after One Nation released a social media cartoon repeatedly labelling Mr. Hastie, a former SAS captain and veteran of the war in Afghanistan, a “traitor.” The attack stems from Mr. Hastie’s decision to provide evidence against Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith during his unsuccessful defamation case against Nine newspapers.
Lambie, herself an army veteran, did not mince her words when addressing the matter on ABC radio on Thursday. She slammed the content of the cartoon as “absolutely disgusting” and “full of bloody violence.”
“Attacking Andrew Hastie, a veteran that has served in our Afghanistan war, or any other veteran, is the lowest ebb you can possibly do,” Senator Lambie said. “That woman is nothing less than a bloody coward. You’re seeing her true colours start to shine now.”
The criticism from Lambie follows a wave of condemnation from the Liberal Party. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor joined the chorus on Thursday, demanding that the cartoon be removed from social media. While Taylor stopped short of adopting Mr. Hastie’s personal language—describing Hanson as “weak and glass-jawed”—he defended the Liberal MP’s record, stating, “Andrew Hastie has served this country with distinction as an officer in the SAS. She should take it down.”
Mr. Hastie has confirmed he will not pursue legal action against Hanson, citing the financial imbalance posed by her billionaire backer, Gina Rinehart. “Why would I walk into a fight that I can’t win financially?” Mr. Hastie said. “But yes, I’m going to impose costs politically.”
Despite the backlash, Hanson has refused to back down, claiming she never personally called Hastie a coward, though she confirmed the video was posted via her official channels. She has previously referred to the MP with a derogatory slur.
The conflict has even crossed the political aisle, with Greens senator David Shoebridge labelling the attack “disgraceful.”
“I disagree with pretty much everything that comes out of Hastie’s mouth,” Shoebridge said. “But for the life of me, I can’t work out how any political party can stand by an attack on somebody because they go into court and they tell the truth as they understand it.”
Shadow defence minister James Paterson also weighed in, questioning the moral authority of those behind the attack. “I would never dream of accusing someone who has served in uniform for our country of being a traitor,” Paterson said. “What service has anyone in One Nation given that compares in any way, shape or form to Andrew Hastie’s service?”
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