Liberal shadow minister Andrew Hastie has accused One Nation's Pauline Hanson of being 'Maga first,' intensifying the standoff between the two conservative parties. Hastie also urged Australia to be 'frank' with the United States, asserting that President Donald Trump's operation in Iran had not gone to plan.
Hastie's Criticism
In comments first made to the Nine newspapers, Hastie was critical of Hanson for not speaking more strongly against the effects of the US war on Iran and how repercussions were being felt by Australians. Speaking to a Nine newspapers podcast, Hanson suggested America's war on Iran would be a success 'if we can get the Strait of Hormuz open, and we get the oil supply.'
Hastie criticized the One Nation leader's stance, stating: 'Our first loyalty must be to the Australian people. Not to international institutions, not to ideology like Maga – but to the Australian people, first and foremost. The United States is a close ally but we should always be frank with our friends, and speak up for the national interest. The truth is that President Trump's war in Iran hasn't gone to plan. That's not controversial to say that.'
Maga First Accusation
Citing Trump's 'Make America Great Again' slogan, Hastie added: 'Pauline Hanson's problem is that she is Maga first, even when the Australian people suffer the economic consequences.' Hanson has attended events at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort with Gina Rinehart and famously popped champagne in 2016 after Trump's first election win, saying at the time: 'I can see in Donald Trump a lot of me and what I stand for in Australia.'
