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

TRANSCRIPT
INTERVIEW WITH KIERAN GILBERT, NEWS24

Monday 26 October 2026

Topics: Helen Haines; Parliamentary conduct; Newspoll.

E&OE……………………………………

KIERAN GILBERT: Let's bring in one of their federal counterparts, Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie. Thanks for your time. I want to start with that really concerning story that Georgie began with – a bullet left on the car of the Emergency Services and Police Minister, Paul Edbrooke, saying "rat" and his former firefighter number. What's your reaction to that?

ANDREW HASTIE: Well, that's a death threat. Let's be clear – that's a death threat. When you're putting bullets on a minister's car, that's a very serious threat. So, this needs to be followed up, investigated, and if necessary, charges need to be laid.

KIERAN GILBERT: And in relation to this, as part of a symptom of the political debate, are you worried about where that's at?

ANDREW HASTIE: The vast majority of Australians are law-abiding. They have strong opinions - that's fine. But there are people on the margins who might have a twisted mind or a perverted sense of reality, who respond to rhetoric online and then potentially weaponise a car – as we saw last week – or a kitchen knife, or a firearm. That's the risk that we're talking about. And as we've seen today, someone's put a bullet on a minister's car. That's got to be taken very seriously.

KIERAN GILBERT: A very emotional day today in Parliament.

ANDREW HASTIE: Yeah, emotional and sobering. As we looked across the chamber and we saw Helen Haines's seat sitting empty, we're reminded that of what happened last week - someone turned their Toyota Land Cruiser into a two-tonne weapon and tried to kill her. I think it's really important that we recognise the moment. And many of us in the chamber on both sides called for more respect and to uphold that tradition of civil debate. It can be robust. It can be tough. That's our job. It's an adversarial style of government that we exercise here, but always within the boundaries of civil debate.

KIERAN GILBERT: It's sobering, though, isn't it, when one of your own isn't returning? One of the MPs that were there last sitting and they're not here today, sadly. Hopefully she does return at some point.

ANDREW HASTIE: Yeah, we're praying for a speedy recovery. And when she does return, she'll do so without her legs. I mean, this is huge. This suspect has changed her life forever. So, it's very serious, and it was great to see such an outpouring of friendship towards her, to her husband, Phil, and to her team.

KIERAN GILBERT: Is there any point of difference, though, in the response, even in nuance of this message about what is robust discourse from what Angus Taylor said in his speech versus the Prime Minister?

ANDREW HASTIE: You'd have to look very hard. In the end, today was about Helen, honouring her work in the Parliament, wishing her well. There is a debate about the boundaries of civil discussion, what's robust and what's not. But I think we're all on the same page. We love our adversarial style of Parliament – that's not going to change – and we have laws and conventions within the Parliament to govern our conduct. It's what's happening outside the Parliament in the wider culture. I think the point that we've all made is that we have to be leaders here in this House.

KIERAN GILBERT: So, you believe that the major parties are on the same page, though?

ANDREW HASTIE: I think so. I mean, we're not going to step back from holding this government to account. There are all sorts of problems with the Albanese government, from high spending to a lot of waste out there, whether it's in the climate bureaucracy or what have you. We want change. We're not going to shirk from doing our job.

KIERAN GILBERT: My colleague, Andrew Clennell, uncovered some cartoons of One Nation from previous years where they actually had vehicles running over individuals. Is this something that they need to be held accountable for specifically?

ANDREW HASTIE: I think with this sort of stuff, the best thing we can do is what Andrew Clennell did, which is just expose it. Because in 18 months' time, or maybe even earlier, we're going to have to have a vote, and people have to make a choice about who they want to govern our country, and I think it's in the best interests of every Australian to realise what they're getting with One Nation.

KIERAN GILBERT: The Newspoll today in Victoria suggests Jess Wilson's headed for a comfortable win. I mean, it's five weeks; anything can happen. The Liberal operators that I've spoken to there also say it's one the most complex election they can remember, given the One Nation element and the way that it's going to be a seat-by-seat proposition, this one. So, they're not getting ahead of themselves, understandably.

ANDREW HASTIE: I think that's the right mindset too.

KIERAN GILBERT: Yeah, well, you've got to do that, don't you? Because otherwise, complacency potentially settles in.

ANDREW HASTIE: And a lot can happen over five weeks. But I think what people really want, particularly in Victoria, is competent government, and that's what Jess Wilson and her team are offering – competent government. Cut the spending, get the hospitals working, enforce the law, stop the crime, and invest in public infrastructure. It's pretty basic sort of stuff. For all the noise on both sides of politics, I think Jess is offering a pretty sensible way forward for the state.

KIERAN GILBERT: And a model for the federal Coalition as well so you think?

ANDREW HASTIE: Do the policy work, get the job done, have a vision for the country, and execute it. You don't need cartoons to make a point.

KIERAN GILBERT: Andrew Hastie, great to chat as always. We'll see you next week.

ANDREW HASTIE: Thanks, Kieran.

[ENDS]