Pauline Hanson faces backlash over 'traitor' video targeting Andrew Hastie

A political controversy has erupted in Australia following a satirical video posted by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. The video, which remains pinned to her social media profile, labels Liberal frontbencher and former SAS veteran Andrew Hastie a “traitor” multiple times.

Mr. Hastie, who previously testified in the defamation trial of Ben Roberts-Smith, has condemned the video as a “massive slur” against all veterans. He and other political figures, including Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, have called for the content to be removed. Defence Minister Richard Marles described the video as “utterly tasteless,” while RSL Australia stated that branding a former soldier a traitor is an attack on the entire veteran community.

Senator Hanson has refused to remove the video, characterizing the backlash as “making a mountain out of a molehill” and maintaining that the content is merely satirical. The dispute highlights growing tensions between the Coalition and One Nation as the latter seeks to expand its influence in regional electorates.