Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie has disclosed that individuals he trusted have distanced themselves from him subsequent to his testimony in the defamation trial of Ben Roberts-Smith. Hastie stated in a letter to supporters that he will no longer tolerate what he described as "slander" from the One Nation party, which is reportedly planning to challenge him for his West Australian seat of Canning.
Hastie acknowledged that giving evidence in the trial, alongside more than 20 other current and former members of the Special Air Service Regiment, came at a personal cost. He referenced findings by Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko, who described Hastie as a "straightforward witness" during the proceedings.
Despite the challenges, Hastie indicated he was not seeking sympathy. He accused One Nation of leveraging the controversy for political advantage, asserting that the party opposes accountability for Australian soldiers' battlefield conduct. "I won't take any more slander from One Nation. Not after they called me a traitor to my own country," Hastie stated.
One Nation has signaled its intention to challenge Hastie after the party's recent success in the state seat of Secret Harbour, which overlaps with Hastie's electorate. Hastie referred to party director James Ashby, warning that any attempt to unseat him would be a significant drain on time, money, and political capital.
In a separate appearance on ABC's Afternoon Briefing, Hastie adopted a more dismissive tone regarding One Nation's threat, emphasizing his commitment to his electorate. He highlighted his track record in Canning, including securing a commitment from the Western Australian Labor government for a new train station in Secret Harbour, an initiative he stated One Nation did not support.
"I stand by my record of delivery. I'm not worried about who's taking potshots at me. I just get on with the job," Hastie remarked.