‘Exclusively male’: Liberal defence spokesman Andrew Hastie under fire over combat roles for women
Days after the Liberal Party moved to dump a candidate for expressing similar views, videos have surfaced of Andrew Hastie expressing his own views on the Bolt Report.
National
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Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie is under fire after it emerged that his personal view is that “the DNA of a close combat unit is best-preserved if it is exclusively male.”
Just days after the Liberal Party moved to dump the candidate for Whitlam for expressing similar views, videos have surfaced of Mr Hastie expressing his own views on the Bolt Report.
Mr Hastie is the opposition spokesperson for defence and would become the minister if Mr Dutton is elected.
Conceding it wasn’t “a popular view” in 2018, he said it was simply his considered view, having been posted to combat roles in Afghanistan.
“Combat roles have been open for women since January of 2013 ... the previous Labor government brought that in,’’ he said.
“But you’re asking me for my personal view. I think roles in the ADF should be open to women. I’ve worked with a lot of women, great signallers, great intelligence operators, a whole range of roles.
“My personal view, since you’ve asked me, is that close combat roles are incredibly exacting. “That’s why we have rigorous selection courses. And my personal view is that the fighting DNA of a close combat unit is best preserved when it’s exclusively male. Now, that’s not a popular view.”
Asked to clarify the remarks, Mr Hastie did not disavow them.
“Mr Hastie’s comments about combat roles in the Australian Defence Force were made more than seven years ago based on his own experience serving in the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR),’’ a spokesperson said.
“There is no intent to change personnel policy in the Australian Defence Force regarding combat roles. The Coalition, however, will insist on the highest physical and mental standards for those who serve in our combat units, as we must have the best fighting capability to defend our nation.”
Mr Hastie added he had never met the dumped candidate, Benjamin Britton.
“Mr Britton has never met Mr Hastie, nor has he volunteered, worked or interviewed for a role in his office. Any suggestion of a professional connection is incorrect,’’ a spokesperson said.
Mr Britton was dumped by the Liberal Party after he suggested the “hips” of women are “being destroyed because they can’t cope with the carrying of the heavy loads and the heavy impacts required for doing combat-related jobs.
“Why would you want to send your beautiful women? Your females, the ones that are the backbone of your society. Your society only exists because of women. Why would you want to sacrifice them in war, on the altar?’’ he said.
Mr Britton defended his views on Sydney radio station 2GB, saying they were shared by Mr Hastie.
“My position is the same as Andrew Hastie, the shadow minister for defence and the great (late senator) Jim Molan, that women should not serve specifically in combat roles, specifically in the Army itself.”
Speaking on the campaign trail, Mr Dutton insisted the Coalition supported women in combat roles.
“Andrew Hastie’s view is the same as mine and that’s the position,’’ he said.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said the divisions in the Coalition were a major concern.
“It is utterly untenable that the alternative defence minister of this country has a view that women should not be serving in combat roles,’’ he said.
“He’s previously made comments about this in the past. It is utterly imperative that Andrew Hastie makes clear today that this is not his position. It is untenable to have a defence minister in Australia who feels that women should not be able to participate in combat roles.
“Now that Ben Britton has made these comments about Andrew Hastie, it is absolutely imperative that Andrew Hastie clarifies this matter.”
Originally published as ‘Exclusively male’: Liberal defence spokesman Andrew Hastie under fire over combat roles for women
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