Sarah Matulin, partner of Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith, labeled Liberal MP Andrew Hastie a ‘traitor’ in response to his ANZAC Day Instagram tribute. The comment, which she later deleted, targeted Hastie’s post about remembering the fallen, honoring veterans, and the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Details of the Controversial Remark
Hastie, a former SAS soldier, shared a photo of his young children laying a wreath at an ANZAC Day service on Saturday. Ms Matulin replied directly: “Yeah you’re a traitor.” She quickly removed the post and issued a statement through Roberts-Smith’s lawyer, Karen Espiner, acknowledging, “It was a mistake to make that comment in a public forum and wasn’t done with Ben’s knowledge.”
Hastie’s Involvement in Roberts-Smith Case
Hastie served as one of 21 SAS veterans subpoenaed in Roberts-Smith’s 2018 defamation lawsuit against media outlets. During the Federal Court proceedings, he testified under oath about hearing accounts of Roberts-Smith allegedly kicking an unarmed Afghan detainee over a cliff during a 2012 mission in Darwan. This incident forms part of five war crime murder charges Roberts-Smith faces in the NSW Supreme Court.
Prosecutors allege Roberts-Smith shot one unarmed detainee, participated in killing another, and ordered subordinates to execute three more during SAS operations in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2012. Roberts-Smith denies all allegations. It remains unclear if Hastie will testify in the upcoming criminal trial.
Hastie’s Statement on the Matter
Following Roberts-Smith’s recent arrest, Hastie released a statement emphasizing his prior testimony: “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. I gave testimony under oath, as required by law.”
He added, “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. Therefore I will not prejudice this trial by making any further comment.” Hastie urged respect for the rule of law, the criminal justice system, and the presumption of innocence.
Other Reactions and Roberts-Smith’s ANZAC Appearance
The post also drew criticism from Bruce Lehrmann, who commented, “A most inappropriate post given your complicity in the ongoing public shaming and mudslinging against our ADF. Your betrayal of BRS and the ADF won’t be forgotten.”
Meanwhile, Roberts-Smith and Ms Matulin attended an ANZAC Day commemoration at Currumbin RSL on Queensland’s Gold Coast. Dropping him off at a NSW police station last week for bail, Ms Matulin supported him as he smiled for selfies with attendees. Roberts-Smith affirmed his commitment, stating, “I’ve never thought about not coming. I was always going to be here.”
