Liberal senator Dave Sharma has backed Jacqui Lambie’s attack on Pauline Hanson, saying the Tasmanian senator was “entirely deserved” in condemning a One Nation cartoon that described former SAS soldier Andrew Hastie as a “traitor”.
“Anyone who served in uniform deserves the respect of our nation,” Mr Sharma told Nine’s Today programme. “For Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce and One Nation to denigrate his service in a cartoon, I think is just beyond the pale.”
Ms Lambie, who served in the Australian Army for more than a decade, called Ms Hanson a “bloody maggot” and accused her of attacking a veteran after the One Nation leader refused to remove the video.
“What she’s doing in those cartoons is absolutely disgusting. They are full of bloody violence,” Ms Lambie said. “That woman is nothing less than a bloody coward. She always has been, and she always will be. She wouldn’t last one day in that goddamn uniform. Leave our veterans alone.” ([abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-10/federal-politics-lambie-blasts-hanson-over-hastie-cartoon/107137036))
The animated video, posted on Ms Hanson’s social media accounts, repeatedly labels Mr Hastie a traitor over his involvement in the defamation case brought by former SAS corporal Ben Roberts-Smith. Mr Hastie was subpoenaed to give evidence in the 2022 trial and has defended doing so as part of his obligations under the rule of law.
Ms Hanson has denied personally calling Mr Hastie a traitor, describing the material as satire, but has said she will not take it down. Mr Joyce has also denied using the term, while saying he had contacted Mr Hastie and respected his military service. ([abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-09/andrew-hastie-demands-one-nation-delete-traitor-cartoon-on-x/107134606))
Mr Hastie has accused the One Nation figures of being “lying cowards” and said the video was not only an attack on him but on other veterans who had given evidence under oath.
The dispute has drawn condemnation from senior Coalition figures, including Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, who said the cartoon should be removed. One Nation’s Western Australian leader, Rod Caddies, has also distanced himself from the material and urged political parties to lower the temperature of public debate. ([abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-10/federal-politics-lambie-blasts-hanson-over-hastie-cartoon/107137036))
Mr Hastie’s seat of Canning is being targeted by One Nation at the next federal election. He has ruled out legal action, saying a court battle would be financially difficult, but has vowed to impose political costs on the party.
