Andrew Hastie vs One Nation: Cartoon Accusations of Treason Spark Political Feud

In late July, One Nation posted an animated video titled “Don’t be Hastie” on Senator Pauline Hanson’s X account. The nine-minute clip labels Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie a “traitor” eight times and also calls him a “gutless maggot.” Hastie responded by calling Hanson and One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce “lying cowards” and demanding the party either delete the video or publicly own the accusation.

Andrew Hastie doubles down on Pauline Hanson attack after traitor label, Barnaby Joyce, Jacqui Lambie chime in The ConversationThe Sydney Morning HeraldABC News AustraliaNine.com.au

Hastie’s testimony in the 2022 defamation case of Victoria Cross holder Ben Roberts-Smith has made him a target for One Nation, whose leader Pauline Hanson and backer Gina Rinehart have defended Roberts-Smith. The dispute unfolds ahead of the 2028 federal election, with One Nation having won the Western Australian state seat of Secret Harbour—a district that overlaps Hastie’s federal electorate of Canning—signalling a concerted effort to unseat him.

The Sydney Morning Herald

• July 24 – One Nation uploads the “Don’t be Hastie” video, pinning it to Hanson’s X profile.

The Sydney Morning Herald

• Early September 2026 – Hastie publicly challenges Hanson and Joyce, labels them “lying cowards,” and circulates screenshots of the video as “receipt.”

ABC News Australia

• September 10 2026 – WA One Nation leader Rod Caddies distances himself from the “traitor” label while defending the cartoon’s satirical nature.

The Sydney Morning Herald

Senator Pauline Hanson denied ever calling Hastie a traitor, saying she would instead label him a “wanker” and describing the piece as “satirical.” She refused to delete the video, urging the public to view it and form their own opinion.

ABC News Australia

Barnaby Joyce echoed Hanson’s denial, telling reporters he had “never called him a traitor” and describing Hastie’s reaction as “emotional” given the electoral threat One Nation poses to his WA seat of Canning.

Nine.com.au

Independent senator Jacqui Lambie, herself a veteran, condemned the cartoon as “absolutely disgusting” and called Hanson a “bloody coward,” urging veterans not to support One Nation.

Jacqui Lambie brands Pauline Hanson a ‘bloody coward’ for attacks on Liberal MP Andrew Hastie

James Paterson, the opposition defence spokesperson, called Hanson’s refusal to take responsibility “disgraceful” and warned that accusing a veteran of treason is “the gravest accusation.” Greens senator David Shoebridge, while disagreeing with most of Hastie’s policies, called the attack on a veteran “pretty fucking disgraceful.”

Special Broadcasting Service

• The video references the word “traitor” eight times.

Jacqui Lambie brands Pauline Hanson a ‘bloody coward’ for attacks on Liberal MP Andrew Hastie

• YouTube analytics show more than 145,000 views.

The Sydney Morning Herald

• Over 20 SAS veterans gave evidence in the Roberts-Smith federal proceedings.

Liberal MP Andrew Hastie doubles down on One Nation fight; Pauline Hanson calls him a ‘wanker’

• One Nation’s state-byelection win in Secret Harbour captured nearly 40 % of the primary vote, overlapping Hastie’s Canning electorate.

The Sydney Morning Herald

Hastie presents a screenshot of the July 24 post as proof that the cartoon calls him a traitor, yet both Hanson and Joyce publicly deny ever using that term. No independent verification of the video’s voice-over script has been published, leaving the precise wording of the accusation unresolved.

ABC News Australia

• “I won’t take any more slander from One Nation,” — Andrew Hastie

The Guardian

• “What she’s doing in those cartoons is absolutely disgusting.” — Jacqui Lambie

Andrew Hastie doubles down on Pauline Hanson attack after traitor label, Barnaby Joyce, Jacqui Lambie chime in