Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie said on 23 April 2025 that combat roles would stay open to women under a Coalition government. But he stood by a 2018 comment.
Key Facts
- Who: Andrew Hastie, then shadow defence minister
- When: 23 April 2025
- 2018 comment made on Sky News
- Linked to: dumped Whitlam candidate Benjamin Britton
The 2018 Comment
In 2018 Hastie said: “My personal view is the fighting DNA of a close combat unit is best preserved when it is exclusively male.”
What He Said in 2025
He said: “I did say it and I’m not going to disown who I was seven years ago.”
He also said: “Every single role in the ADF is open to you.”
The Britton Case
The Liberal Party dumped Benjamin Britton as its Whitlam candidate in April 2025. He had said the ADF should “remove females from combat corps”.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Hastie say in 2018?
That close combat units were best kept all male.
What was Coalition policy?
All combat roles open to women.
Who was Benjamin Britton?
A Liberal candidate dumped over similar views.
Conclusion
Hastie kept his personal view but backed the party policy.
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