Barnaby Joyce has offered what is being described as a qualified or partial apology to Andrew Hastie following a public dispute over a cartoon. The cartoon in question depicted Hastie as a 'traitor' due to his vocal opposition to the One Nation party. The situation arose after internal party friction spilled into the public sphere, with the imagery causing significant backlash among colleagues and observers.

While Joyce has acknowledged the situation, the nature of the apology has been characterized as reluctant or incomplete. The disagreement centers on whether the cartoon was a legitimate form of political expression or an unacceptable personal attack on a colleague. Sources indicate that the apology was prompted by pressure to maintain party unity, though the specific language used by Joyce has left some observers questioning the sincerity of the gesture. There is currently no consensus on whether this apology will effectively resolve the underlying friction between the two politicians, as both parties maintain different views on the appropriateness of the cartoon's messaging.