Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has publicly backed Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie in his ongoing dispute with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, offering an unusual show of support for a political rival.
"There's a lot of chatter about the member for Canning, who's insisting he's running again," Albanese said during Question Time on Thursday. "And good luck to you. And certainly, if it's you or One Nation, I'm for this bloke. And good on you for standing up to them."
Hastie, the Liberal member for Canning, has been outspoken in his opposition to One Nation, stating he would "never surrender" to the party. He previously told Coalition colleagues, "I would rather get taken out in a box than bend the knee to One Nation."
Despite speculation that his stance against One Nation might impact his support, Hastie has affirmed his commitment to the Liberal Party and his intention to contest the next election. "I'm not on my way out, Luke. I am here to stay, and I will recontest the next election," Hastie told radio host Luke Grant.
One Nation has made its intentions clear, with chief strategist James Ashby announcing the party will target Hastie's seat of Canning in the upcoming election. The feud has escalated to the point where Hastie has reported receiving increased security at his family home and office, attributing this to a campaign fueled by One Nation due to his stance on war crimes allegations involving Ben Roberts-Smith.
In a message to supporters on June 26, Hastie characterized the situation as a declaration of war from One Nation, stating, "One Nation has declared war on me, so they shall have war. I won’t be pushed around by One Nation. Nor will I bow the knee to them. This is now personal, and they will have to blast me out of Canning."
Hastie also outlined his political platform, emphasizing policies such as ending mass migration, abandoning Net Zero emissions targets, cutting taxes, preparing for the AI revolution, and strengthening national security. He stated the Liberal Party's aim is to "defeat the Albanese government, and form a centre-right government that delivers our reform agenda for the Australian people."
Political commentator Peter van Onselen noted Hastie's recent speech as a potential leadership pitch, suggesting Hastie is positioning himself as a successor to Angus Taylor as Liberal leader, arguing for national independence, energy abundance, and Australia's strategic vulnerabilities.