Andrew Hastie ADF comments : Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie has stated that, under a Coalition government, close combat roles in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) would be accessible to women. However, he reaffirmed a comment he made in 2018, expressing his belief that such roles are best suited to men.
The Liberal Party recently had to withdraw its endorsement of Benjamin Britton, the candidate for the NSW South Coast seat of Whitlam, after it emerged he had suggested in a July podcast that removing women from combat corps was necessary to “fix” the defence force.
Britton’s remarks echoed a statement Hastie made in a 2018 Sky News interview, where he said: “My personal view is the fighting DNA of a close combat unit is best preserved when it is exclusively male.”
Hastie, who had largely stayed out of the spotlight during the federal election campaign until now, was prompted to clarify the Coalition’s position at a press conference held alongside Opposition Leader Peter Dutton this afternoon.
The Coalition’s policy is that all combat roles are open to women. This has been our long-standing stance,” he stated.
I’ve held this position for nearly five years — 18 months as Assistant Minister for Defence and the past three years as Shadow Minister for Defence — and throughout that time, our policy has consistently supported the inclusion of women in all combat roles.”
Andrew Hastie Stands by 2018 Comment on Women in ADF Combat Roles Amidst Coalition Clarification
We have a single standard — every role in the ADF is open to all Australians, no matter your background, race, sexuality, gender, or religion,” he said.
However, the Shadow Defence Minister — a former SAS captain with 12 years of service in the ADF and deployments to Afghanistan, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific — maintained his position on the 2018 comment.
I said it, and I’m not going to distance myself from who I was seven years ago,” he stated.
Coalition Reaffirms Support for Women in Combat Roles Despite Past Remarks and Candidate Controversy
When I reflect on my time in a close combat unit at Bindoon… live-fire drills where we trained for ‘man down’ scenarios — highly aerobic, demanding precision and fine motor control, all while using live ammunition.
I recall lifting an 85kg teammate — my legs gave out. That was in training. But I served alongside men who did that in actual combat, under fire, to rescue a fallen comrade.
I stand by my past remarks. I’m not backing away from them.
People expect honesty and integrity from their politicians — and I meant what I said.
Earlier this month, Defence Minister Richard Marles stated that it would be “untenable” for Australia to have a defence minister who believes women should be excluded from combat roles.
Since January 2013, women have been eligible to serve in all combat and combat-support roles in the ADF.
Liberals dump Britton, endorse new candidate
Britton, who had highlighted his defence background while campaigning for the seat of Whitlam, appeared on a podcast with right-wing commentator Joel Jammal in July — prior to his preselection in December — where he claimed the ADF was at its “lowest point ever” due to what he described as a “lowering of standards,” particularly to accommodate women in combat roles.
He argued that to “fix” defence, women should be removed from combat corps.
Their hips are being damaged because they can’t withstand the heavy loads and physical strain required in combat roles,” he said.
He went on to criticize diversity and equity efforts, labeling them as “woke Marxist ideologies,” and claimed that young women were being “sacrificed” in the name of these ideals.
Why would you want to send your beautiful women — the very backbone of society, the reason it exists — to be sacrificed in war?” he asked.
Following the controversy, Britton was disendorsed as the Liberal candidate for Whitlam and replaced by Nathaniel Smith, a plumbing business owner and former state MP.
Britton has claimed that internal party factions orchestrated a “witch hunt” to force him out, but Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said there were multiple reasons behind the decision to replace him.
There were a number of concerns, not just the ones that have come to light publicly, regarding the candidate. We made the decision to replace Ben,” Dutton said at a press conference earlier this month.
That’s the call we made. I wish him all the best.
Dutton was also pressed to clarify his stance on women serving in combat roles within the ADF.
You’ve seen my record as Defence Minister — I fully supported women serving in any role they chose within the Australian Defence Force, and that remains the position I would uphold as leader of any government,” he said.
Andrew Hastie shares that view, and that is our policy.
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