Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie is set to receive additional security at his home and electorate office, a measure he believes is a response to a months-long campaign by One Nation and its supporters, particularly concerning his involvement in the Ben Roberts-Smith war crimes case.
Hastie Informed of Security Measures
During a partyroom meeting on Tuesday, Hastie told colleagues that Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke had advised him of the decision to implement security measures. Hastie said Burke did not disclose the specific nature of the threats that prompted the move.
Liberal sources said Hastie attributed the security upgrade to an online campaign from One Nation and its supporters, which intensified after he was subpoenaed to give evidence in Roberts-Smith's defamation trial against Nine newspapers. Roberts-Smith, a former SAS soldier and Victoria Cross recipient, has been charged with war crimes and denies all allegations.
Hastie's Defiant Response
In comments first reported by Nine papers and confirmed by Guardian Australia, Hastie told the meeting he would not back down. “I would rather get taken out in a box than bend the knee to One Nation,” he said. “I will never surrender to One Nation, and we will do them, and do them slowly.”
A separate Coalition source said Hastie accused One Nation of “weaponising issues” against him and his family, vowing to “fight to the end.”
Tensions Within Coalition
Hastie's comments highlight growing tensions within the Coalition over how to handle One Nation, whose support is surging. Some Liberals, including party president Tony Abbott, favor cooperation with Hanson's party, while others like Hastie view it as a political opponent.
Allies suspect One Nation is targeting Hastie because he is seen as a bigger threat than Opposition Leader Angus Taylor. The campaign reportedly escalated after Hastie supported hate speech laws in January, leading to him being labeled a “traitor” in right-wing online circles, and intensified after Roberts-Smith's arrest in April.
One Nation Denies Campaign
One Nation rejected allegations of targeting Hastie. “One Nation isn’t driving any campaign against Andrew Hastie,” the party said in a statement. “The Liberals are doing plenty of damage to themselves; they don’t need our help. We make no apology for joining the many Australians who support Ben Roberts-Smith VC.”
Hastie, a former SAS soldier, served alongside Roberts-Smith in Afghanistan. He has been a vocal critic of One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, particularly after she defended Donald Trump's war in Iran. “Pauline Hanson’s problem is that she is Maga first, even when the Australian people suffer the economic consequences,” he said.
