Senator Lambie calls Hanson a 'bloody coward' over veteran cartoon controversy

Independent senator Jacqui Lambie has lashed Pauline Hanson as a "bloody coward", demanding she "leave our veterans alone" and remove a One Nation cartoon that repeatedly labels Liberal MP Andrew Hastie a "traitor".

Mr Hastie, a former Special Air Service (SAS) soldier, has escalated his fight with One Nation and accused the party of branding him a traitor to his country after he was subpoenaed to give evidence in a defamation case brought by former SAS corporal Ben Roberts-Smith.

Mr Hastie today said One Nation's cartoon was not just an attack on him, but on the more than 20 other SAS veterans who were called to give evidence in the Federal Court, and the broader veteran community.

Senator Lambie, a veteran herself, said Senator Hanson should remove the cartoon of Mr Hastie immediately.

"What she's doing in those cartoons is absolutely disgusting," Senator Lambie told ABC's Radio National.

"Attacking Andrew Hastie, a veteran that has served in our Afghanistan war, or any other veteran, is the lowest ebb you can possibly do.

Senator Hanson this morning doubled down on her denial that she ever personally called Mr Hastie a traitor, but did not reply when asked if the cartoon should be removed.

Earlier, Mr Hastie said Senator Hanson refusing to own the traitor comments showed her to be "weak and glass-jawed".

"She's also cast a massive slur on veterans around the country who think that Australian soldiers should hold high standards of conduct on the battlefield," he told the ABC.

He threatened to "impose costs politically" on One Nation, but ruled out any court action.

"I'm not after legal action, particularly when she's financed by Australia's richest person. Why would I walk into a fight that I can't win financially?"

Senator Hanson and mining magnate Gina Rinehart have both been vocal defenders of Mr Roberts-Smith, a Victoria Cross recipient.

Mr Roberts-Smith was arrested in April this year and charged with five counts of the war crime of murder over the alleged killings of five Afghan men between 2009 and 2012. He denies the charges.

Senator Lambie said the One Nation leader's "true colours are starting to shine now".

"Any veteran out there thinking about voting for One Nation or standing for them, I tell you what, you had better think twice," Senator Lambie said.

One Nation says Hastie faces 'arduous' democratic process

One Nation's Barnaby Joyce said he did not think Mr Hastie was a traitor and he "absolutely" respected the veteran's service to the nation.

"I've reached out to Andrew last night, I've said, 'Look, my door's open if you want to talk about this,'" he said.

"I don't know why he thinks I am a liar … I'm disappointed. He thinks I am a coward."

Mr Joyce said he was not running a concerted campaign against Mr Hastie in relation to Mr Roberts-Smith, and said the latter was facing a court process that needed to run its course.

Mr Hastie's West Australian seat of Canning is being targeted by One Nation at the next federal election.

Mr Joyce added "democracy is a robust thing" and said Mr Hastie had an "arduous" process ahead of him.

"That's democracy. We all face that … You either prevail or you fail, and that's how a nation makes sure we've got the right people here."

Political rivals support Hastie

Senator Lambie was one of several voices to come to Mr Hastie's defence from across the political spectrum.

Greens senator David Shoebridge said while he disagreed with Mr Hastie's political views, this issue permeated beyond politics.

"I fundamentally disagree with most of the politics of Hastie … but the idea someone is having a go at someone because they went into court and told what they thought is the truth and they did it even at significant personal cost — any political party that has a go at someone for doing that is contemptible," he said.

Labor's Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said veterans must be respected.

"I do think in our public life we need to have respect for people who have risked their lives for this country," she said.

Mr Hastie's colleague, Liberal senator Paul Scarr, said there was "no doubt whatsoever" that the video should be taken down.

"I think it's a disgraceful cartoon and it should be removed."