‘I don’t want to be here’: Andrew Hastie was a reluctant but ‘straightforward’ witness in the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case
News Source
•Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:00:41 GMT
📰 What Happened
Liberal MP Andrew Hastie gave evidence in the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case in 2022. He did not want to be there. He only appeared because a subpoena forced him to attend.
Roberts-Smith, a Victoria Cross recipient, sued Nine newspapers over war crimes claims. He lost the case. The judge said Roberts-Smith was 'not an honest and reliable witness'.
The same judge called Hastie 'honest and straightforward' three times. Now One Nation has posted a cartoon that calls Hastie a 'traitor' for testifying.
🔍 The Backstory
Hastie and Roberts-Smith both served in the SAS, the army's special forces. Hastie was an officer and later became assistant defence minister. The two men were not close.
Hastie told the court there was a 'widespread view' in the SAS that Roberts-Smith was a bully. He described one 2012 Afghanistan operation they shared, where a prisoner was allegedly killed.
A soldier known as Person 66 refused to answer questions, saying his answers might show he committed a murder. Because of that, the judge could not find the claim proved.
🎯 Why It Matters
Politicians who tell the truth in court can still be attacked for it. The case shows how hard it is to speak up about serious wrongdoing inside the armed forces.
Liberal MP Andrew Hastie gave evidence in the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case in 2022. He did not want to be there. He only appeared because a subpoena forced him to attend.
Roberts-Smith, a Victoria Cross recipient, sued Nine newspapers over war crimes claims. He lost the case. The judge said Roberts-Smith was 'not an honest and reliable witness'.
The same judge called Hastie 'honest and straightforward' three times. Now One Nation has posted a cartoon that calls Hastie a 'traitor' for testifying.
Hastie and Roberts-Smith both served in the SAS, the army's special forces. Hastie was an officer and later became assistant defence minister. The two men were not close.
Hastie told the court there was a 'widespread view' in the SAS that Roberts-Smith was a bully. He described one 2012 Afghanistan operation they shared, where a prisoner was allegedly killed.
A soldier known as Person 66 refused to answer questions, saying his answers might show he committed a murder. Because of that, the judge could not find the claim proved.
Politicians who tell the truth in court can still be attacked for it. The case shows how hard it is to speak up about serious wrongdoing inside the armed forces.