Joyce apologises, Hanson doubles down on ‘traitor’ cartoon

Pauline Hanson has doubled down on the furore surrounding a controversial cartoon that labels Liberal MP and SAS veteran Andrew Hastie a “traitor”, even as her colleague Barnaby Joyce reportedly reached out to apologise.

The cartoon, one of One Nation’s Please Explain series, has triggered fury across the political spectrum, even drawing comment from the RSL.

But this morning, Hanson’s X account posted a gloating message referring to the controversy.

“Thanks to Andrew Hastie the cartoons have made the news again!” the post read.

“So while we have your attention, here are the ten best episodes, hand-picked by the creators.”

The original cartoon, which was first posted on July 24, remains pinned to the top of Hanson’s X feed.

It refers to Hastie as a “traitor” multiple times.

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Hastie rules out legal action against Hanson as bitter war of words escalates

Meanwhile, senior one Nation figure Barnaby Joyce told the Sydney Morning Herald he had reached out to Hastie after the latter referred to Joyce and Hanson as “lying cowards” for denying they had called him a traitor.

“If he feels a sense of offence, and he obviously does, I apologise for that,” Joyce told the Herald.

“I was unaware of the cartoon until I saw it yesterday. I don’t really follow the cartoons much since I was portrayed as a beetroot.”

Hastie in turn told the Herald he had accepted Joyce’s explanation and apology and that he no longer considered the New England MP a “lying coward”.

“But that is still my view of Pauline Hanson, and will remain so,” Hastie said.

Hanson has refused to apologise for the cartoon, calling it “satirical” and claiming the “traitor” mentions referred to Hastie’s voting record.

But it’s been widely perceived as a dog-whistle linked to One Nation’s public backing of Victoria Cross winner and war crimes accused Ben Roberts-Smith.

Hastie, who like Roberts-Smith served in the SAS, gave testimony in Roberts-Smith’s failed defamation lawsuit against the Herald after the outlet implicated the latter in war crimes during his service in Afghanistan.

Hastie, at the time assistant minister for defence, only appeared in court when compelled by subpoena.

Wave of outrage

Hastie’s party colleagues and political opponents have jumped to his defence over the cartoon.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said the cartoon was “distasteful” and “inappropriate”.

“I know Andrew Hastie well. He’s most definitely not a traitor,” Marles told Today.

“He is a man who has served our country wearing our nation’s uniform, and he deserves our respect. And he deserves to be honoured, as does every one of our veterans.”

Liberal leader Angus Taylor also backed his party colleague, while MP and fellow veteran Jacqui Lambie unleashed a tirade of invective against Hanson.

“That woman is nothing less than a bloody coward, she always has been, and she always will be,” she told the ABC.

“She wouldn’t last one day in that goddamn uniform.”

The RSL also weighed in, posting a message on social media that said the issue had progressed beyond political disagreement.

“This may have begun as a political dispute between Senator Hanson and Mr Hastie, however, when a person’s military service is used as the punchline, when the word ‘traitor’ is thrown at someone who has worn the uniform and deployed on operations, that stops being politics and starts being an attack on every veteran’s service,” the organisation said.

“Veterans don’t stop being accountable to their oath once they leave the ADF. Branding a former soldier a ‘traitor’ sends a corrosive message to the wider veteran community: that your service can be recast as betrayal the moment it’s politically convenient.

“RSL Australia asks all sides of politics to keep that distinction. Calling a veteran a traitor is a slur, and it deserves to be treated as one regardless of who it’s aimed at or how it’s dressed up.”