Liberal MP Andrew Hastie is the latest victim of a poisonous online campaign by One Nation, with the government announcing it will provide him with extra security measures to protect him from intimidation and harm. The decision comes as tensions within the Coalition escalate over how to deal with Pauline Hanson's party, which has been accused of using its online presence to bully opponents and silence critics.
The move is a response to an ongoing campaign by One Nation supporters, who have targeted Hastie after he spoke out on the Ben Roberts-Smith war crimes allegations. In a meeting with his colleagues, Hastie revealed that Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke had advised him of the decision to provide additional security at his home and electorate office.
Hastie, a former SAS soldier who served alongside Roberts-Smith in Afghanistan, has been subpoenaed to give evidence in the defamation trial and is also a potential witness in the criminal trial after Roberts-Smith was charged with war crimes in April. In comments reported in the media, Hastie stated that he would not stop fighting One Nation and would 'do them slowly.'
The decision to provide Hastie with extra security has added to the tensions within the Coalition over how to confront One Nation, which has been a vocal supporter of Roberts-Smith. While some Liberals, including party president Tony Abbott, support working with Hanson's party, others view One Nation as a political opponent that must be confronted and defeated.