Hastie says Joyce and Farley likely have 'buyer's remorse' after joining One Nation

Liberal MP Andrew Hastie has escalated his public feud with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, suggesting that two of her party's MPs—former Nationals deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce and MP David Farley—are likely experiencing 'buyer's remorse' after joining the party.

'Look, I'll say this about Barnaby Joyce. I feel sorry for the bloke, all right? He left a party that made him deputy prime minister twice, to jump in with this rabble, there's no principles, they're all over the shop, and he's out there every week cleaning up after them,' Hastie said.

Hastie's comments follow a One Nation animated cartoon that labelled him a 'traitor' after he gave evidence in the failed defamation trial of Ben Roberts-Smith.

The Liberal MP questioned Hanson's fitness for leadership: 'If she were to be prime minister, is she going to run cartoons about all her political opponents? How's she going to devote her time? Is she serious? Does she have a worldview that we can actually understand?'

Hastie argued that One Nation is a party centred entirely on Hanson, and suggested Joyce and Farley may be regretting their decision to join. 'I think this is why Barnaby Joyce and I reckon David Farley are probably having buyer's remorse. They're thinking, "what did I get myself into?"'

The remarks mark an escalation in tensions between Hastie and Hanson's party, with the One Nation cartoon serving as the catalyst for the ongoing dispute.

Why This Matters

The public feud highlights growing tensions between conservative figures in Australian politics, with a sitting Liberal MP directly questioning the stability and principles of the One Nation party.
Hastie's suggestion that Joyce and Farley regret joining One Nation could undermine the party's credibility and fuel speculation about internal rifts.
The dispute raises broader questions about the tone and tactics of political discourse in Australia, particularly the use of personal attacks in campaign material.

Background

Andrew Hastie is a Liberal MP who became involved in a high-profile defamation case brought by former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith. Hastie gave evidence in the trial, which Roberts-Smith ultimately lost. One Nation has since produced an animated cartoon depicting Hastie as a 'traitor'. Barnaby Joyce, a former deputy prime minister under the Coalition, left the Nationals to join One Nation, along with David Farley, a former One Nation MP.

Key Perspectives

Andrew Hastie (Liberal MP): He portrays One Nation as a disorganised, personality-driven party with no principles, and suggests Joyce and Farley are unhappy with their decision to join. Pauline Hanson / One Nation: The party has not been directly quoted in this article, but its cartoon targeting Hastie indicates a confrontational stance. The party would likely reject Hastie's characterisation and defend its record. Barnaby Joyce and David Farley: Neither has commented publicly on Hastie's remarks. They may face growing pressure to respond to claims of buyer's remorse.

What to Watch

Whether Joyce or Farley issue statements addressing Hastie's claims of buyer's remorse.
Any further escalation in personal attacks or legal threats between the two camps.
The impact on One Nation's polling and public perception, particularly among conservative voters.

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