The 43-year-old denies all of the allegations reported by The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Occasions, who’re defending them as true.
Mr Hastie – who served as a captain within the Particular Air Service Regiment between 2010 and 2015 and is now assistant minister for defence – on Friday instructed the Federal Court docket he had heard allegations from many individuals about Mr Roberts-Smith throughout his service.
One man instructed him Mr Roberts-Smith punched him within the face whereas they have been deployed, and others talked about him capturing already useless individuals, and that the actions which earned him the VC have been exaggerated.
He additionally got here to consider Mr Roberts-Smith had “blooded” a rookie – a follow which refers to a junior soldier getting their first kill in motion – on a 2012 mission he’d participated in.
Assistant Minister for Defence Andrew Hastie leaves the Federal Court docket of Australia in Sydney, Thursday, 24 March, 2022. Supply: AAP / BIANCA DE MARCHI
As whispers of misconduct started to develop louder, Mr Hastie recalled speaking to his second in command in 2013 to set expectations about their subsequent deployment.
“He mentioned, I am going to always remember this, ‘I am not going to Afghanistan to place dust farmers on their knees and shoot them behind the pinnacle’,” one thing Mr Hastie understood to be a reference to Mr Roberts-Smith.
Whereas he instructed the courtroom he had by no means raised allegations about Mr Roberts-Smith to his superiors, he did communicate to them a couple of coverage which he felt incentivised troopers to take the legislation into their very own arms on the battlefield.
Mr Hastie beforehand instructed the courtroom there was a widespread view Mr Roberts-Smith – as soon as an advocate for psychological well being charities – had bullied at the least certainly one of his comrades.
Mr Hastie recounted he and his pals laughing at a joke a colleague made in regards to the perceived double customary: “RS gave Individual One despair, now he is gonna assist him struggle it.”
Underneath cross examination on Friday, the barrister performing for Mr Roberts-Smith advised Mr Hastie was the bully on this occasion.
“Do you perceive that bullying could embrace spreading rumours … laughing at somebody … mocking somebody?” Arthur Moses mentioned.
Mr Hastie mentioned it was hardly probably the most damning incident the listening to had canvassed.
“Should you’re suggesting I ought to be ashamed of my conduct, I am not.”
Assistant Minister for Defence Andrew Hastie (left) leaves the Federal Court docket of Australia in Sydney, 24 March, 2022. Supply: AAP / BIANCA DE MARCHI/AAPIMAGE
Mr Roberts-Smith’s legal professionals have repeatedly advised allegations in opposition to the warfare hero have been made up by a small group of friends who have been jealous of his army accolades.
However Mr Hastie recounted 20 individuals who had instructed or advised to him that Mr Roberts-Smith was a hypocrite.
It was a far cry from the preliminary impression he had of Mr Roberts-Smith, which partly persuaded him to place himself up for SAS choice, Mr Hastie mentioned.
“I began from a really excessive regard for Mr Roberts-Smith,” he mentioned.
“I am now not pleased with (him).”
However Mr Hastie denied hating him.
“I do not dislike Mr Roberts-Smith in any respect … I pity him.”
“I do not need to be right here… that is horrible for our nation. It is horrible for the SAS. It is horrible for the military.
“However till we take care of it, we won’t transfer ahead.”
However Mr Moses advised Mr Hastie was a hypocrite himself, over his involvement in one of many media studies on the centre of the proceedings.
“You have been making off-the-record allegations … that Mr Robert-Smith had engaged in warfare crimes while making on-record feedback about the necessity to respect the (investigation by the defence power).”
Mr Moses advised he did this to lift his profile as an MP.
Mr Hastie denied the suggestion, saying he spoke up out of affection for the regiment and a perception within the significance of investigative journalism, referencing a 2019 speech given by Mr Moses, the then-president of the Legislation Council.
“I need to say I am very sympathetic to your speech … the place you argue that public curiosity journalism is important to a wholesome democracy … I believe we share a powerful view on this,” Mr Hastie mentioned.
The trial continues.
Veterans and members of the family looking for assist can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Open Arms on 1800 011 046.