Andrew Hastie has been sacked from the Army Reserves after refusing to stop using photos of himself in his army uniform on campaign material. The Canning MP was elected in a byelection last year and has made many comments on national security and Islam, citing his Defence Force experience. In a statement given to The West Australian, the Defence Department said Hastie had already been asked to remove the pictures:

“‘Defence contacted Mr Hastie, a member of the standby Army reserve, and requested he remove imagery of himself in uniform from election campaign material,’ the department said. ‘Regrettably, Mr Hastie did not comply. Accordingly, the army issued Mr Hastie with a notice indicating the intention to terminate his service because he had failed to comply with directions and Defence policy.'”

Hastie had a dig at both Defence and former army chief David Morrison: “David Morrison politicised the ADF long before I ever put my mug on a billboard. In fact, he hastened my exit from the army into politics.”

Hastie isn’t the only former army member to be asked to remove photos in uniform, Labor’s candidate for the seat of Brisbane Pat O’Neil has also been asked to remove billboards that feature him in his army unform and read “Serving our community. Our nation.” Australian Liberty Alliance candidate and former defence force member Bernard Gaynor wrote to Defence Minister Marise Payne over O’Neil’s billboards, saying:

“Billboards featuring candidates in military uniform should not be allowed.

“They don’t need a letter from the ADF to know this is wrong.”

“To have a candidate in uniform promoting views like same-sex marriage and safe schools gives the impression that they are views supported by the ADF.”