Key facts
- Andrew Hastie was a reluctant witness in the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case, appearing under subpoena.
- Justice Anthony Besanko described Hastie as "straightforward" three times in his judgment.
- Besanko found Ben Roberts-Smith "not an honest and reliable witness," stating his motive for lies was "realisation of guilt and a fear of the truth."
- Hastie testified about an alleged "blooding" incident in Afghanistan in October 2012 involving Roberts-Smith and another soldier, referred to as Person 66.
- Roberts-Smith faces criminal charges for five alleged war crimes murders.
- Pauline Hanson's One Nation party called Hastie a "gutless maggot" and "traitor" online.
Andrew Hastie, a member of parliament and assistant minister for defence, was a reluctant witness in the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case, testifying under subpoena. In his judgment, Justice Anthony Besanko described Hastie as an "honest and straightforward witness" on three occasions. This contrasts sharply with Besanko's assessment of Roberts-Smith, whom the judge found to be "not an honest and reliable witness," stating that his motive for lying was "the realisation of guilt and a fear of the truth."
Hastie's testimony focused on an alleged incident in October 2012 in Afghanistan, where Roberts-Smith allegedly ordered a subordinate soldier, known as Person 66, to execute an unarmed prisoner. Person 66 reportedly admitted their role in the incident, but could not be compelled to testify about it as it might prove they committed a war crime. Roberts-Smith has consistently denied the allegations and faces criminal charges for five alleged war crimes murders.
Following his testimony, Hastie was publicly criticized by Pauline Hanson's One Nation party, which posted a cartoon labeling him a "gutless maggot" and a "traitor." Pauline Hanson herself referred to Hastie as a "wanker."