Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie has opened up about the personal fallout from giving evidence in Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation case against Nine, saying “people I trusted have walked away from me” since his involvement in the high-profile trial.
In a letter sent to supporters, Hastie singled out One Nation as the party prepares a campaign to unseat the former SAS officer in his West Australian electorate of Canning, declaring he would no longer tolerate what he described as “slander” over the case.
Hastie confirmed he had been called to testify against Roberts-Smith and, in an unusually personal reflection, conceded the experience had come at a cost. He also pointed to the Federal Court’s assessment of him as a “straightforward” witness.
He also issued a pointed warning to One Nation party director James Ashby, saying any push to remove him from parliament would become a “very costly exercise in time, money and political capital”.
Hastie’s response followed a Sunday Times front page carrying the headline “I’m Canning for you next”, a reference to One Nation’s plans to target him after its surprise win in Secret Harbour, a state seat that overlaps with his federal electorate.
Hastie said the attacks were linked to his evidence in the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation trial, where he appeared alongside other current and former members of the SAS.
‘I won’t take any more slander from One Nation. Not after they called me a traitor to my own country,’ he said.
‘I [gave evidence] with more than 20 other combat veterans and witnesses from the Special Air Service Regiment.’
Andrew Hastie (pictured) called One Nation ‘cowards’ for attacking his record of service
Hastie cited Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko’s findings as proof he had acted with integrity.
‘Justice Besanko, in his ruling, found that I was a “straightforward witness”. For that, I’ve been called a rat, a traitor, a dog c—, and many other things,’ he said.
‘People I trusted have walked away from me or failed to defend me.’
While acknowledging the personal toll, Hastie insisted he was not seeking sympathy.
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‘I seek no sympathy for the slings and arrows fired my way,’ he said.
Instead, he accused One Nation of exploiting the controversy for political gain.
‘One Nation are working to unseat me because they don’t believe in the rule of law, nor do they believe in holding Australian soldiers to high standards of battlefield conduct,’ he said.
‘Now I’m calling time on cowards who have never served a day in the Australian Defence Force for attacking my service record, my integrity, and my loyalty to Australia.’
One Nation has targeted Hastie over his role in the Ben Roberts Smith (pictured) trial
Hastie was asked about One Nation during an appearance on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing on Monday. He struck a different tone – brushing aside the threat and pointing to his track record in Canning.
‘I don’t worry about that. I’ve got one job, and that is to deliver for my electorate,’ he told Patricia Karvelas.
‘I love my electorate. I’ve lived there for 11 years. My kids were born down there, they’re at school there.’
The shadow minister pointed to major wins for the fast-growing region, including a commitment from the WA Labor government to build a new train station at Secret Harbour.
‘I’ve delivered a lot of infrastructure and I’m still getting wins, by the way,’ he said.
‘The Labor state government committed to a new train station, which they now have to build for the people of Secret Harbour. One Nation didn’t fight for that. I campaigned for that for the last year and a half, and Labor committed so it’s going to happen.’
‘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.’