Source : Perth Now news
Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie has demanded One Nation either “own” a video calling him a traitor or “delete it” in scathing comments branding leader Pauline Hanson and her MP Barnaby Joyce “lying cowards”.
In the One Nation-produced cartoon, a caricature of Anthony Albanese “convinces Andrew Hastie that One Nation is behind the abuse in his comments section”, according to a July 24 social media post by Senator Hanson.
“Traitor? Why are they calling you a traitor?” the Prime Minister asks Mr Hastie.
“I don’t know, all I did was testify against Ben Roberts-Smith and support your evil hate speech legislation after promising not to,” the cartoon character purporting to be the special services veteran responds.
In the cartoon, Mr Hastie then laments that he “will never be” Liberal Party leader “because I’m a stupid traitor”.
Senator Hanson is listed as a producer on the cartoon’s credits and the final text reads “Authorised by Pauline Hanson for One Nation, Brisbane QLD”.
But both Senator Hanson and Mr Joyce this week denied calling Mr Hastie a traitor, prompting him to make a stand on Wednesday.
“I’m proud of my service to this country in uniform and in this parliament,” he said.
“It’s a slur on me. It’s a slur on other veterans who have given under oath evidence to the Federal Court.”
Mr Hastie and 20 other veterans have given evidence against Mr Roberts-Smith, who was charged with five counts of war crime murder earlier this year.
Mr Roberts-Smith denies all allegations against him.
Senator Hanson has praised him as a “hero”.
In Wednesday’s comments, Mr Hastie called on Senator Hanson and Mr Joyce to “own it and explain why I’m a traitor and why other veterans are traitors or delete it”.
He also said Senator Hanson was hypocritical for claiming to be worried about extreme political rhetoric.
Threats against Mr Hastie have surged since being targeted by One Nation, prompting Home Affairs to beef up security at his home and electorate office last month.
