Hastie Supports Women in Uniform, Maintains Standards
Hastie refuted claims that women compromised ADF standards, emphasizing that a single standard applies to everyone, regardless of gender, with every role open to all Australians.
Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie reiterated that anyone meeting the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) standards should be eligible to serve, irrespective of gender, amid renewed debate over his previous remarks about women in frontline positions.
“One thing we must uphold is high standards because in combat, there’s no room for second place. We must win every battle we engage in,” he stated.
When asked if women lowered standards, Hastie responded, “That is not what I am suggesting.”
“I am emphasizing that we have a uniform standard for all Australians, regardless of their background, race, sexuality, gender, or religion. Every role within the ADF is open to you, and we encourage more Australians to join,” he emphasized.
Hastie faced questions about his previous comments in 2018 where he suggested that retaining all-male frontline units best preserved the military’s “fighting DNA,” a statement he acknowledged was unpopular at the time.
The scrutiny has intensified following the disendorsement of New South Wales (NSW) Liberal candidate Benjamin Britton.
Britton, a former ADF member, was removed just two days after controversial past statements surfaced, advocating for the exclusion of women from combat roles and criticizing diversity quotas as “woke” and “Marxist.”
The NSW Liberal Party clarified that Britton was disendorsed due to undisclosed views that contradicted the party’s principles.
While defending his stance, Britton mentioned serving with exceptional women in the ADF but maintained that combat roles should remain exclusive to males—a perspective he claimed was shared by Hastie and the late Major General and Liberal Senator Jim Molan.
Reacting to his disendorsement, Britton expressed relief, noting that it liberated him from “nonsense” and “factionalism.”
Warning on Defence Cuts
Hastie, a former special forces captain, seized the opportunity to criticize Labor’s defence track record, accusing the government of undermining national security.
“They’ve slashed the infantry fighting vehicle program, two supply ships, and a fourth squadron of F-35s. They are actively weakening our country,” he asserted.
He highlighted the Coalition’s plan to increase defence spending to 3 percent of GDP over ten years as proof of its dedication to national security, contrasting Labor’s revised figure of 2.3 percent.
He cautioned that military recruitment and retention are facing a crisis, pointing to data indicating that nearly 90 percent of last year’s applications were withdrawn before completion.
When asked about the Coalition’s strategy to tackle recruitment and retention, Liberal Leader Peter Dutton suggested that salary reviews were a possibility, but emphasized the importance of reestablishing a sense of purpose.
