One Nation cartoon calls Liberal MP traitor, sparks cross-party backlash
One Nation's cartoon depicting Liberal MP Andrew Hastie as a traitor sparked rare cross-party backlash.
One Nation's satirical cartoon series Please Explain triggered rare cross-party backlash. An episode called Don't Be Hastie depicted Western Australian Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie, a former soldier, as a traitor.
Hastie was attacked for testifying against an alleged war criminal and for supporting Labor's hate speech laws. Hastie hit back hard, calling Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce lying cowards and demanding they delete the video.
Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie, also a former soldier, called the episode absolutely disgusting. She branded Hanson a coward.
The cartoons started in 2021. Now they reach millions on social media.
They make fun of marginalized communities. They attack opponents.
Yet they claim it's more than just a joke.
- 2021
- Series launch
- Don't Be Hastie, July
- Episode
Why it mattersThe incident shows how far-right parties worldwide use comedy to hide extreme ideology, making it harder to challenge such views.
AustraliaOne Nation's growing reach through cartoons shows how the party is adapting its message for digital audiences and younger voters who may not follow traditional politics.
Corroborated bycrikey.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 10 d ago
