Hastie accepts Joyce apology over 'traitor' cartoon; Hanson tells critics to 'chill'

Hastie had called on Hanson and One Nation to take ownership of the cartoon or remove it from social media after Hanson stated she personally had not called the Liberal frontbencher a traitor. The video, posted in late July, depicts Hastie as a manipulated opposition leader and refers to him as a traitor for giving evidence against Ben Roberts-Smith in his defamation trial.

Joyce initially distanced himself from the video, stating he was unaware of it. He later reached out to Hastie, who told Guardian Australia on Friday that he accepted Joyce’s explanation. "Barnaby Joyce has reached out to me and explained that he didn’t know about the cartoon that called me a traitor eight times. I accept his explanation," Hastie said. "I called him a lying coward because I thought he was protecting Pauline Hanson. I now know that she is the only lying coward."

Hanson, meanwhile, appeared to double down on the animation, thanking Hastie for drawing attention to it and suggesting critics “take a chill pill.” She posted a photo of Senator Jacqui Lambie, who had backed Hastie, on X with the caption, “I think everyone needs to take a chill pill.” The video remained pinned to the top of Hanson's X account.

Joyce declined to comment on whether the video should be removed, stating it was "beyond my pay grade." He added, "If I believe a person’s hurt and I listen to it and I think, no, that’s fair enough, you’re not a traitor, therefore if you feel hurt by that because you think it’s too close to the bone, even though it’s a cartoon, I’m not making excuses because it’s a cartoon, but it wasn’t actually said by anybody in One Nation to him then nonetheless, it should be apologised for, so I apologise."

However, One Nation senator Sean Bell stated it was a “shame” Hastie had made the issue about himself, adding, “I don’t think the party has anything to apologise for. I think people should go and watch the cartoon, because I think, in it, there’s a lot of very insightful things, because it’s not just about Mr. Hastie, it’s about the Liberal party as a whole. It’s about the Labour party and some of the tricks they use. Mr Hastie’s has been looking to have a fight and a conflict with One Nation for a long, long time.”

Senior Liberals, Lambie, the RSL, and the Greens have all criticized the video and pushed for its removal. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles called the use of the word “traitor” against a veteran “tasteless,” stating, “Andrew Hastie is definitely not a traitor. I know him well and I’ve said this publicly. I very much honour the service that Andrew Hastie has given to our country, wearing our nation’s uniform. I think to use that word in respect of a veteran is extremely tasteless. No one should be using that word in respect of any veteran and in respect of Andrew.”