Jacqui Lambie has accused Pauline Hanson of being a “coward” for a One Nation cartoon calling the Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie a traitor, amid a growing spat between the One Nation leader and the former SAS captain. Lambie, a veteran and Tasmanian senator, defended Hastie on Thursday, after he called on Hanson to take ownership for a One Nation animated cartoon on social media in which he is repeatedly described as a traitor for giving evidence against Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith in his failed defamation case. Senior Liberals also joined condemnation of the cartoon on Thursday, with the opposition leader, Angus Taylor, calling for it to be taken down.
Hastie has challenged Hanson and Nationals defector Barnaby Joyce to take responsibility for the One Nation video, promising a costly political battle. Lambie told ABC radio the cartoon should be immediately taken down and that Hanson was now showing her “true colours”. They are full of bloody violence,” Lambie said.
That woman is nothing less than a bloody coward. You watch this, the Australian people. Here comes coward Hanson … And any veteran out there thinking about voting for One Nation or standing for them, I tell you what, you had better think twice.” Hastie is an SAS veteran and served twice in Afghanistan but has attracted the ire of One Nation and Hanson’s billionaire backer, Gina Rinehart, after he gave evidence against Roberts-Smith in a failed defamation case against Nine newspapers.
Hanson and Rinehart say Roberts-Smith is being unfairly targeted over war crimes allegations related to his service between 2009-2012. Hastie on Thursday ruled out legal action against Hanson, due to Rinehart’s backing. I gave her the opportunity to either own her words publicly or to take it down.
She chose neither,” he told ABC radio. And she’s also cast a massive slur on veterans around the country who think that Australian soldiers should hold high standards of conduct on the battlefield. Why would I walk into a fight that I can’t win financially?
But yes, I’m going to impose costs politically.” Hanson again claimed she had not personally called Hastie a coward, despite posting the video on her social media accounts. Yesterday she told The Nightly newspaper that she would call Hastie a “wanker” instead. Taylor also called on Hanson to take down the cartoon during a press conference, and said it was wrong for it to remain online.
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