Ben Roberts-Smith’s girlfriend has branded his veteran colleague Andrew Hastie a “traitor” on social media after the Liberal MP posted an Anzac Day tribute online.
Sarah Matulin wrote “Yeah, you’re a traitor” in the comment section of Mr Hastie’s Instagram post, according to Nine Newspapers.
In the picture, Mr Hastie is attending an Anzac Day service and holding hands with his two children, his son carrying a wreath.
The West Australian politician had captioned the image: “Remembering the fallen, honouring our veterans and ADF – a responsibility for all Australians, young and old. Lest we forget.”
Ms Matulin’s comment was later deleted.
Speaking via Mr Roberts-Smith’s lawyer Karen Espiner, Ms Matulin said: “It was a mistake to make that comment in a public forum and wasn’t done with Ben’s knowledge”.
Another online commenter on Mr Hastie’s post was ex-Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann, who was found by a Federal Court judge on the balance of probabilities to have raped his former colleague Brittany Higgins.
“A most inappropriate post given your complicity in the ongoing public shaming and mudslinging against our ADF,” Mr Lehrmann wrote.
“Your betrayal of BRS and the ADF won’t be forgotten, hope it was worth it for ministerial promotion.”
On Tuesday, Mr Hastie remain tight-lipped on Ms Matulin’s comments.
“I’ve been very careful about what I’ve said when I’ve had to give testimony. I’ve done it under oath, and again, that’s all I have to say,” he said.
“I’m just very cautious, given a fair trial, the presumption of innocence, and a few other legal principles are at stake here, so I won’t be commentating like other public figures on this.”
Before he entered politics, the Canning MP was a captain in the Special Air Services for almost six years and was deployed in Afghanistan alongside Mr Roberts-Smith.
Mr Hastie testified against his former colleague in the defamation trial brought by Mr Roberts-Smith against Nine Newspapers for a series of articles that alleged the Victoria Cross recipient committed war crimes in Afghanistan.
“I don’t dislike Mr Roberts-Smith at all, I pity him, I pity this whole process,” Mr Hastie told the Federal Court in 2022.
At the time, Mr Hastie said under cross-examination that he had heard accounts of the allegation that Mr Roberts-Smith had kicked an Afghan man off a cliff in 2012, violating the rules of engagement.
Both the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal later found, on the balance of probabilities, the allegation was true. It is now one of five charges of the war crime of murder faced by Mr Roberts-Smith after his arrest earlier this month.
Following the 47-year-old’s charges, Mr Hastie released a statement on April 9 saying: “In 2022, I was one of 21 SAS veterans of the war in Afghanistan subpoenaed as a witness in the defamation action brought by Ben Roberts-Smith against Nine Media.
“As a qualified member of the SAS, I was present on one of the operational missions in 2012 that was examined by the Federal Court.
“I gave testimony under oath, as required by law. Mr Roberts-Smith is now facing criminal charges in relation to this operational mission, so it is possible that I will be called as a witness to this trial.
“I urge every Australian to respect the rule of law, the criminal justice system, and the accused’s right to a presumption of innocence and a fair trial.”
He said he would not prejudice the trial by making further comments.
Mr Roberts-Smith has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
