Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has publicly called on the One Nation party to remove a cartoon that labels Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie a “traitor.” The controversy centers on the party’s use of political satire, which has drawn sharp rebukes from across the political spectrum. Abbott’s intervention frames the issue as a matter of consistency, arguing that if the ABC was required to apologize and withdraw satirical content targeting Gina Rinehart, One Nation should be held to the same standard regarding the depiction of Hastie.

Abbott’s comments align him with a broader coalition of critics, including Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, independent Senator Jacqui Lambie, and the RSL, all of whom have demanded the removal of the image. The incident has sparked a debate regarding the boundaries of political satire and the responsibility of political parties when using such imagery. While Abbott emphasizes the need for a uniform standard of conduct, the underlying tension remains whether the cartoon constitutes legitimate political commentary or an unacceptable personal attack on a member of parliament. As of now, the party has faced significant pressure to retract the content, though the specific response from One Nation leadership remains a focal point of the ongoing dispute.