The stubborn refusal by One Nation to remove a grubby animated cartoon labelling federal member Andrew Hastie a coward and a traitor has drawn a stark line between personal integrity and cheap political populism. Pauline Hanson and her party have deliberately taken political discourse to a new low. They continue doubling down on an offensive social media post that maliciously attacks a decorated military veteran simply for giving sworn evidence in a court of law.
Andrew Hastie did his duty when he proudly wore the uniform of the Special Air Service Regiment. He continues to do his duty serving his country within the halls of Federal Parliament. Crucially, he did his duty when he stepped forward and testified for the defence during the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation trial. If called upon to testify again in future proceedings, Hastie will almost certainly answer that call.
