Federal election 2016: Liberal MP Andrew Hastie sacked from Army Reserve, report says

Scott Morrison has backed Andrew Hastie after he was sacked by the Army Reserve over failing to remove election posters.

The Andrew Hastie election campaign billboard that shows the Canning MP wearing his army uniform. Picture: Twitter/@Shirley_Knot

Former special forces soldier and federal MP Andrew Hastie has been sacked by the Army Reserve.

Sacked: Andrew Hastie

Mr Hastie, who served in Afghanistan, was given the boot by the Department of Defence after he failed to comply with requests to remove pictures showing him in Army uniform from election campaign material, the West Australian reports.

Australian Armed forces are zealous in guarding their apolitical stance and Defence Force members are banned from taking part in any political activities while in uniform.

Scott Morrison today backed his colleague “100 per cent” following news of his termination.

“Andrew Hastie has served his country as a member of our defence force and as a member of our parliament exceptionally well. He’s an extraordinary individual and I stand by Andrew 100 per cent, as does the entire team,” the Treasurer said as he campaigned in the Perth seat of Swan.

“The thing about Andrew is he always takes responsibility for the decisions he makes. He considers them carefully and he’s had the responsibility of leading men and women and he’s had the responsibility of very serious matters that he’s had to deal with in his career in the defence forces and I think that has well prepared him for the role he now takes on.”

Mr Hastie has shot back at the Army over the matter, saying they should be proud to have their former personnel in parliament. “The ADF should be proud too that they have former ADF personnel on both sides of politics,” he told the West Australian.

Cabinet minister Mathias Cormann also threw his support behind Mr Hastie saying his fellow West Australian had provided distinguished service as a SAS soldier.

“I strongly support Andrew Hastie’s decision to present himself to his constituents in this election, putting forward what is part of his life history,” he told reporters in Canberra.

Mr Hastie was Tony Abbott’s “captain’s pick’’ for the seat of Canning which had been rendered vacant by the death of Liberal MP Don Randall. During Hastie’s by-election campaign in September 2015, Mr Abbott was replaced as prime minister by Malcolm Turnbull.

A Defence spokesperson confirmed Liberal MP Andrew Hastie’s military service has been “terminated” after he refused to take down election campaign billboards of himself in uniform.

The spokesperson said Defence policy was designed to ensure the Australian Defence Force remained “apolitical”.

“ADF members are therefore not permitted to participate in any political activity in uniform, unless they are pre-approved to do so by an appropriate authority,” they said.

“Defence contacted Mr Hastie, a member of the standby Army reserve, and requested he remove imagery of himself in uniform from election campaign material. Regrettably, Mr Hastie did not comply with this request

“Accordingly, the Army issued Mr Hastie with a notice indicating the intention to terminate his service because he had failed to comply with directions and Defence policy. Mr Hastie’s service has since been terminated.”

AAP