Rinehart pressures Liberal MP to abandon Hastie over war-crimes testimony

At Gina Rinehart’s beachfront mansion near Noosa, Liberal MP Henry Pike was confronted with a request to abandon his ally Andrew Hastie and move closer to One Nation, with Rinehart repeatedly labeling Hastie a “traitor.” The confrontation stemmed from Hastie’s role as a witness in the 2022 Federal Court defamation case brought by decorated former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith, who faces war-crimes charges. Hastie responded by publishing a scathing email that accused Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce of falsehoods and declared a political war against One Nation.

The dispute escalated after One Nation’s victory in the Secret Harbour state seat, a swing area within Hastie’s Western Australian electorate. Rinehart’s connections to the party were highlighted by the presence of Hanson, Joyce and strategist James Ashby at the mansion. The ongoing feud has prompted increased police protection for Hastie and reflects a broader right-wing realignment threatening the Liberal-National coalition.