The Returned & Services League of Australia has been criticised by veterans and everyday Aussies for siding with Liberal MP Andrew Hastie in his dispute with Pauline Hanson over a One Nation cartoon calling him a traitor.
The July cartoon referenced Mr Hastie testifying against former SAS comrade Ben Roberts-Smith in court, and breaking his promise to vote against Labor’s “hate speech” laws, actions which led to accusations that the Liberal MP had betrayed the war hero and his supporters.
Mr Hastie lashed out at Ms Hanson and One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce on Wednesday, and on Thursday RSL Australia weighed in with a post accusing Ms Hanson of attacking veterans.
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“This may have begun as a political dispute between Senator Hanson and Mr Hastie, however, when a person’s military service is used as the punchline, when the word ‘traitor’ is thrown at someone who has worn the uniform and deployed on operations, that stops being politics and starts being an attack on every veteran’s service,” the RSL wrote in the post, which appears to be AI-generated.
“Branding a former soldier a ‘traitor’ sends a corrosive message to the wider veteran community: that your service can be recast as betrayal the moment it’s politically convenient.
“RSL Australia asks all sides of politics to keep that distinction. Calling a veteran a traitor is a slur, and it deserves to be treated as one regardless of who it’s aimed at or how it’s dressed up.”
But the post sparked a massive backlash, with many asking why the RSL had not defended Roberts-Smith or other Australian soldiers who had been smeared in the media and accused of war crimes, and others accusing it of left-wing bias.
“Are you actually being serious right now RSL Australia – you’ve actually chosen to find your voice on this subject?” asked combat veteran Heston Russell, who was defamed by the ABC, which added gunshots to footage used in a war crimes story.
“Where were you when veterans were actually being accused of being war criminals, with footage edited, shots added, and three years through to a defamation case in the federal court. Not over feelings being hurt over being called a word in a cartoon. Absolutely disgraceful.”
DON’T BE HASTIE
Albo convinces Andrew Hastie that One Nation is behind the abuse in his comments section. Hastie declares war, takes the Liberal leadership, and puts Angus Taylor in a coma — where Robert Menzies is waiting with a few words about the Forgotten People.… pic.twitter.com/RcixMHsIgX
— Pauline Hanson 🇦🇺 (@PaulineHansonOz) July 23, 2026
Many others asked why the RSL has not made a similar post for Roberts-Smith, including one who wrote: “Apparently, the RSL can find its voice when a politician is insulted.
“Where was this outrage when Australian soldiers were publicly branded as war criminals, stripped of their reputations, in some cases medals, and condemned before a criminal court had tested the allegations against them?”
“RSL now sponsored by the same Fabians who sponsor Labor and the Liberals,” another said.
Mr Hastie was also swamped with criticism on his own social media pages, where commenters said they agreed he was a traitor, called him a “sook”, said he should not have given evidence against Roberts-Smith, and pointed out that he spoke to journalists about the war hero before testifying.
Mr Russell also replied to one Mr Hastie’s posts, writing: “I consider it traitorous that you’re there talking to the ABC despite them being proven to have targeted Australian special forces veterans, doctor footage – adding gunshots and more… despite never speaking out on this against them yourself. Weak.”
The RSL has previously been criticised for taking woke positions on issues like the booing of “welcome to country” ceremonies on Anzac Day.
Header image: Left, Andrew Hastie complaining about the cartoon ABC radio (Instagram). Right, Ben Roberts-Smith (7News). Inset, Heston Russell’s comment.
