Defence Minister Richard Marles has called a One Nation cartoon labelling Liberal MP and former SAS captain Andrew Hastie a “traitor” “tasteless” and said it should be taken down, adding to growing criticism of the video.
Speaking on Nine, Marles said the use of the word “traitor” in relation to Hastie had implications for Australia’s veteran community because of Hastie’s military service.
“One of the issues here is to use that word in respect of any veteran is taken on by the entire veterans community … it’s distasteful. It’s inappropriate. It should come down and Pauline Hanson should apologise,” Marles said.
The comments follow criticism from senior politicians, independent senator Jacqui Lambie, veterans’ groups and others over the One Nation video, which was posted on social media in late July and remains pinned to the top of Pauline Hanson’s X account.
The cartoon repeatedly refers to Hastie as a traitor and also references his evidence against Ben Roberts-Smith during Roberts-Smith’s unsuccessful defamation case.
Hanson has refused to apologise or remove the video. She has previously described the reaction as “a storm in a teacup” and denied personally calling Hastie a traitor.
Hanson later posted a photo of herself with Lambie alongside a message saying, “I think everyone just needs to take a chill pill”. She also shared what she described as the “ten best episodes” of the Please Explain animation after the controversy received renewed attention.
The dispute also led to contact between Nationals leader Matt Canavan’s predecessor Barnaby Joyce and Hastie. Joyce explained that he was not aware of the cartoon, and Hastie said he accepted that explanation while continuing to criticise Hanson.
Canavan has now welcomed the communication between Joyce and Hastie, while condemning One Nation’s attempts to distance itself from the cartoon. Speaking to News24, Canavan said the video had been authorised and published by One Nation and described attempts to distance the party from it as “pretty weak”.
Canavan said he welcomed Joyce’s apology and believed Hanson should do the same. Hastie said he accepted Joyce’s explanation, but described it as an explanation rather than an apology.
Canavan said he personally welcomed criticism but argued that politicians did not need to “devolve” into this sort of language.
Marles said he honoured Hastie’s service to Australia and rejected the description of him as a traitor. Other political figures and veterans’ representatives have also called for the video to be removed.
Hanson has continued to reject calls for an apology or removal of the cartoon, leaving the dispute unresolved.
Source: The Guardian
