THE HON ANDREW HASTIE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY AND SOVEREIGN CAPABILITY
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR CANNING

TRANSCRIPT
DOORSTOP, PRESS GALLERY, PARLIAMENT HOUSE

Wednesday 9 September 2026

Topics: One Nation; Liberal Party.

E&OE……………………………………

ANDREW HASTIE: Yesterday I said that Pauline Hanson and One Nation had called me a traitor to my own country, and today Barnaby Joyce and Pauline Hanson both denied it. Today I'm calling them lying cowards. I have the receipts. Here on the 23rd of July, Pauline Hanson posted and pinned to her X account a cartoon which eight times calls me a traitor. I'm proud of my service to this country, in uniform and in this Parliament. It's a slur on me, it's a slur on other veterans who have given, under oath, evidence to Federal Court. I'm calling on Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce to either own this – don't be weak, don't be cowards – own it and explain why I'm a traitor and why other veterans are traitors, or delete it. Your choice.

JOURNALIST: Do you think that Pauline Hanson is doing Gina Rinehart's bidding in this? And Mr Hastie, what reflections do you have on the nexus between the West Australian newspaper, Gina Rinehart, and Pauline Hanson?

ANDREW HASTIE: That's a great question. There were some comments made by Gina Rinehart to the AFR several weeks ago – you can look it up yourself. I think that gives an indication of some of the dynamics behind this. But that's a question for journalists, not for me. I've just got to focus on what I can do and right now, I'm calling on Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce to own the cartoon or delete it.

JOURNALIST: Do you think that Gina Rinehart is becoming a threat to democracy, at least in WA?

ANDREW HASTIE: I'll let other people make the decision on that.

JOURNALIST: What's your view on it?

ANDREW HASTIE: My view is that there are things that I can't control and that I don't have visibility on. But all I can do is continue to fight for my community in Canning, which I will do. I'm recontesting the seat, and I'm going to fight exceptionally hard to hold it against One Nation and against Labor.

JOURNALIST: Most Australians don't have visibility about what's going on in WA, especially in the media over there. Explain to people on the east coast, what is happening with the targeting of yourself?

ANDREW HASTIE: That's a good question. You'd have to ask Aaron Patrick why he's kicking veterans when he's not kicking dogs.

JOURNALIST: Mr Hastie, you talk about service to your country, particularly in this place. Do you see yourself serving in a new role, given the reshuffles coming up? Home affairs?

ANDREW HASTIE: Angus Taylor is doing a great job. We're doing a lot of internal policy work, and I'm happy to serve where he would like me to serve. I'm happy in industry and sovereign capability – there's some really important work with artificial intelligence. Jonno Duniam has done some great work with immigration. I'm sure we'll have some figures to announce shortly.

JOURNALIST: What do you say to people who question if it's even a role that you'd want, given last time in the portfolio?

ANDREW HASTIE: The reason I resigned last time was because I didn't have control over immigration, which I think was central to the home affairs portfolio. In the end, we are changing immigration, we are cutting immigration. So, let's see what happens.

JOURNALIST: If could just finish, do you also still have leadership ambition?

ANDREW HASTIE: The leader right now is Angus Taylor. I support him. I consider him a good, close friend, and my actions speak for me. I'm supportive and working closely with Angus Taylor to deliver a Coalition government.

JOURNALIST: Mr Hastie, Scott Jones has been a critic of your testimony in Parliament. Phil Thompson paraded him around Parliament recently. Is Phil Thompson part of the problem you're outlining today?

ANDREW HASTIE: No, I don't have any issues with Phil. Phil's a good friend. We were overseas together back in 2009. As for the other character you mentioned – I'm not on social media. I don't have time for that.

JOURNALIST: Mr Hastie, under the Coalition's current approach to One Nation, do you worry you'll lose your seat?

ANDREW HASTIE: I'm not worried about losing my seat. I'm worried about being called a traitor after serving my country. So, the outcome of the election – whatever. Every three years, we apply for our jobs. I'm going to fight very hard. They have picked a fight with the wrong veteran. They thought I'd just lie down and cop it. Guess what? You've unlocked an achievement, and I'm going to fight all the way.

JOURNALIST: Pauline Hanson complains about rhetoric from the Prime Minister, but she has criticised you, and you've mentioned before your issues of security. Is she a hypocrite?

ANDREW HASTIE: Yes. Thank you.

[ENDS]