Liberal candidates using military uniforms in election campaign ads despite repeated pleas from defence department

The shadow minister for defence, Andrew Hastie. The former troop commander in the SAS was sacked from the army reserve in 2016 after he continued to include images of himself in uniform on campaign material. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

The defence department remains concerned about veterans using images of themselves in military uniform on official campaign material and has issued another “respectful request” for them to stop doing so.

Liberal veterans ranging from first-time candidates to the shadow defence minister Andrew Hastie have used images of themselves in military fatigues jumping from planes, serving on tour and holding rifles during training drills.