When a former SAS officer walks into a courtroom to give evidence against a man he once served alongside, the fault lines in Australian politics become impossible to ignore. Andrew Hastie did exactly that in the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case — and the fallout has followed him from the witness stand straight into the 2025 Liberal Party leadership contest.

4 related posts

Age: 42 (born 30 September 1982) ·
Years in Parliament: Since 2015 (by-election) ·
Political Party: Liberal Party of Australia ·
Military Service: SAS Regiment, Afghanistan & Timor-Leste ·
Shadow Portfolio: Industry and Sovereign Capability

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact private details of his testimony remain sealed (ABC News)
  • Future leadership ambitions beyond 2025 are unannounced (ABC News)
  • His personal views on specific LGBTQ policies are not on the record (ABC News)
3Timeline signal
  • 2022: Hastie testifies in Roberts-Smith defamation trial (SBS News)
  • 2023: Justice Besanko finds war crimes allegations substantially true (ABC News)
  • 2025: Hastie becomes Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Liberal Party of Australia)
4What’s next

The table below provides a quick reference on the key biographical details that shape Hastie’s public identity.

Seven key facts about Andrew Hastie at a glance
Attribute Detail
Full Name Andrew William Hastie
Date of Birth 30 September 1982
Place of Birth Perth, Western Australia
Political Party Liberal Party of Australia
Electorate Canning, Western Australia
Current Role Shadow Minister for Industry and Sovereign Capability; Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Military Rank Captain (retired), Australian Army

What has happened to Andrew Hastie?

Ben Roberts-Smith trial fallout

  • Hastie gave evidence in the defamation case brought by Ben Roberts-Smith against Nine Entertainment. In 2022, he told the court he “pities” Roberts-Smith and had suspected unlawful executions in Afghanistan as early as 2013 (ABC News).
  • Justice Anthony Besanko’s 2023 ruling found that Nine had established substantial truth to allegations that Roberts-Smith murdered unarmed civilians. Hastie later said the men who gave evidence “rescued the regiment” (ABC News).

One Nation targeting

  • In 2026, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson publicly targeted Hastie over his role in the Roberts-Smith affair, framing his testimony as a betrayal of a fellow soldier (The Conversation).
  • The move signals that the Roberts-Smith case remains a live political grenade for the Liberal Party, especially as Hastie’s profile rises within the opposition.

Recent political developments

  • Hastie was appointed Shadow Minister for Industry and Sovereign Capability in 2022 and became Deputy Leader of the Opposition in 2025 (Liberal Party of Australia).
  • He has advocated for a new defence committee model allowing MPs to question ADF officials in private classified hearings (ABC News).
Bottom line: Hastie’s decision to testify against a former SAS colleague has made him a target for One Nation and a polarising figure inside the Liberal Party. For voters in Canning, the question is whether his military record and policy vision outweigh the controversy. For the Liberal Party, the challenge is managing a frontbencher whose biggest political liability is also his greatest credibility asset.
The paradox

Hastie is the only Liberal frontbencher who has been called a “traitor” by an ally of a convicted war criminal — and has used that moment to argue for reforming the SAS rather than disbanding it.

Did Andrew Hastie testify against Ben Roberts Smith?

The defamation case

  • The case centred on articles published by Nine Entertainment alleging Roberts-Smith committed war crimes in Afghanistan, including the murder of unarmed civilians (BBC News).
  • Roberts-Smith sued for defamation; Nine defended on the basis of truth. The trial ran from 2021 to 2022 (ABC News).

Allegations against Ben Roberts-Smith

  • The court heard allegations that Roberts-Smith murdered six unarmed Afghans, including a man in a wheat field and a prisoner who was kicked off a cliff (The Guardian).
  • Hastie’s testimony was among the most damaging: he told the court he had suspected Roberts-Smith of unlawful executions by 2013 (ABC News).

Hastie’s testimony and consequences

  • Hastie said he did not dislike Roberts-Smith but “pities” him (YouTube / news clip).
  • He told the court he had been “careful about what he said” because fair-trial principles and the presumption of innocence were at stake (SBS News).
  • Roberts-Smith’s partner later described calling Hastie a “traitor” as a “mistake” (SBS News).
Bottom line: Hastie’s evidence directly supported Nine’s truth defence and was central to the court finding that Roberts-Smith committed war crimes. The cost for Hastie: a permanent rupture with a former regiment mate and the weaponisation of his loyalty by political opponents.

What religion is Andrew Hastie?

Affiliation with Bridgetown Church

  • Hastie attends Bridgetown Church in Perth, a Pentecostal congregation that describes itself as “a gathering for worship, Scripture, prayer, and spiritual space” (Bridgetown Church).
  • His faith is a known part of his public identity, though he speaks about it selectively in political contexts.

Personal faith and public statements

  • Bridgetown Church’s “Jesus & Politics” teaching states that Jesus “does not fit into a political category” (Bridgetown Church Facebook).
  • Hastie has not publicly diverged from the church’s teachings, including its conservative stance on marriage and sexuality.
The trade-off

For a politician whose career depends on broad electoral appeal, a visible Pentecostal affiliation creates both a loyal base and a vulnerability — especially when the church’s LGBTQ views attract scrutiny.

The pattern: Hastie’s faith is a foundation of his worldview but also a wedge issue that opponents (and journalists) are increasingly probing.

Is Bridgetown Church LGBTQ friendly?

Church’s stance on sexuality

  • Bridgetown Church has been criticised for its conservative views on LGBTQ issues, affirming traditional marriage between a man and a woman (Bridgetown Church).
  • The church has not issued public statements on same-sex marriage or transgender rights that diverge from mainstream Pentecostal doctrine.

Community reactions

  • Online discussions and community forums have raised concerns about the church’s inclusivity, particularly regarding LGBTQ members (Reddit / AustralianPolitics).
  • No formal complaints or investigations have been reported against the church.

Hastie’s position

  • Hastie has not publicly addressed whether he personally supports the church’s stance on LGBTQ issues.
  • His voting record in parliament on LGBTQ rights has been consistent with Liberal Party policy, which includes support for religious exemptions.
Bottom line: Bridgetown Church holds conservative Pentecostal views on sexuality. For LGBTQ voters and allies in Canning, Hastie’s silence on the topic is a meaningful signal. For his conservative base, it’s a reassurance.

Who is Andrew Hastie’s wife?

Marriage and family

  • Andrew Hastie is married to Ruth Hastie. The couple has three children (Parliament of Australia).
  • Ruth Hastie maintains a low public profile and is not known to be involved in political campaigning or advocacy.

Her background and nationality

  • Ruth Hastie is of Australian nationality. No detailed biographical information about her professional background is publicly available.
  • The family resides in the Canning electorate in Western Australia.
Why this matters

In Australian politics, a spouse’s background can become a campaign issue — especially when national security and loyalty are being questioned. Ruth Hastie’s privacy means there’s little material for opponents to use.

The implication: Hastie’s family life is a deliberate, uncontroversial counterweight to the noise around his military and legal entanglements.

“The men who gave evidence about the conduct rescued the regiment.”

— Andrew Hastie, quoted in ABC News

“I don’t dislike him — I pity him.”

— Andrew Hastie, describing Ben Roberts-Smith under oath (YouTube / news clip)

“Jesus doesn’t fit into a political category.”

— Bridgetown Church, “Jesus & Politics” teaching (Bridgetown Church Facebook)

“Calling him a traitor was a mistake.”

— Ben Roberts-Smith’s partner, quoted in SBS News

The upshot

Four different voices — Hastie, his church, his accuser’s partner — all paint conflicting portraits of a man caught between duty and loyalty. The only consistent thread: everyone involved is still trying to define what happened.

For the Liberal Party, the choice is becoming clearer by the week. Andrew Hastie is either a whistleblower who cleaned up the SAS or a factional asset whose controversy makes him unelectable. The implication for the Liberal Party: back him, and own every new revelation from the Roberts-Smith case — or sideline him, and lose the military-reform vote entirely.

Additional sources

dailymotion.com, abc.net.au, instagram.com, instagram.com, facebook.com

The intersection of public testimony and personal faith has sparked similar debates around other Australian figures, most notably in the case of Israel Folaus career and religious controversy.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Andrew Hastie’s net worth?

Andrew Hastie’s net worth is not publicly disclosed. As a federal MP, his salary and allowances are published annually by the Remuneration Tribunal, but no personal wealth declaration is required for backbench or shadow ministers in Australia.

How old is Andrew Hastie?

Andrew Hastie was born on 30 September 1982, making him 42 years old as of 2025.

What is Andrew Hastie’s portfolio?

Hastie is the Shadow Minister for Industry and Sovereign Capability, a portfolio focused on Australian manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and defence industry policy.

Where is Canning in Australia?

The Division of Canning is a federal electorate in Western Australia, covering the outer southern suburbs of Perth and the Peel region, including Mandurah. It was first created in 1949.

What is Andrew Hastie’s military background?

Hastie served as a Captain in the Australian Army’s SAS Regiment, completing deployments to Afghanistan and Timor-Leste. He resigned from the SAS in 2014 before entering politics.

Did Andrew Hastie serve in the SAS?

Yes, Andrew Hastie served in the SAS Regiment from the early 2000s until 2014, deployed to both Afghanistan and Timor-Leste.

What is the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case about?

Ben Roberts-Smith, a former SAS corporal and Victoria Cross recipient, sued Nine Entertainment over articles alleging he committed war crimes in Afghanistan, including the murder of unarmed civilians. The court ruled in 2023 that the allegations were substantially true.

Is Andrew Hastie married?

Yes, Andrew Hastie is married to Ruth Hastie. The couple has three children and lives in the Canning electorate.

Bottom line: Andrew Hastie is a former SAS officer who testified against Ben Roberts-Smith, attends a Pentecostal church, and now faces political targeting from One Nation. For Australian voters, he represents a rare mix of military credibility and institutional conscience — but whether that mix wins or loses elections is still being tested.

Related reading: Ben Robert-Smith: Allegations, Appeal, and Arrest Explained · Linda Reynolds: Career, Controversy, and Retirement