Pauline Hanson has dismissed claims that she labelled Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie a “traitor” following his demand that One Nation either take responsibility for or remove a video portraying him as such. The controversy centers on a cartoon produced by One Nation, which was posted on social media on July 24.

In the animation, a caricature of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese questions Mr. Hastie’s loyalty, asking, “Traitor? Why are they calling you a traitor?” The character representing Mr. Hastie responds by referencing his testimony against Ben Roberts-Smith and his support for legislation addressing hate speech, both of which have sparked significant debate. The cartoon’s Hastie character also expresses frustration, saying he will never become Liberal Party leader because he is "a stupid traitor."

Mr. Hastie has called on One Nation to clarify their position by either acknowledging that the video depicts him as a traitor or by deleting the content. Hanson, who posted the cartoon on her official social media channels, has rejected the accusation that she personally branded Mr. Hastie a traitor, implying that the depiction was not a direct statement from her.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions within Australian politics surrounding party loyalty, legislation related to speech, and the fallout from high-profile inquiries like the testimony involving Ben Roberts-Smith. Both the One Nation party’s portrayal and Mr. Hastie’s response reflect broader divisions within the political landscape and the often contentious nature of public discourse on social media platforms.