Andrew Hastie, a Liberal MP and former assistant defense minister, commented on the war crimes charges against Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia's most decorated living soldier. While Hastie affirmed that Roberts-Smith is entitled to the presumption of innocence, he also stated that 'none of us are above the law.' His remarks followed a court ruling in June 2023, which found that Roberts-Smith likely committed war crimes during his service in Afghanistan. Hastie testified in a defamation case that there were rumors about Roberts-Smith's conduct, including an incident involving an unarmed person. He expressed sadness over the situation, emphasizing the honor of most veterans and the difficult decisions they face in combat. Meanwhile, independent MP Bob Katter announced plans to introduce legislation that would protect the identities of veterans charged with war crimes, proposing that such cases be judged by fellow combat soldiers. The discourse around Roberts-Smith's case has drawn mixed reactions, with some supporters feeling resentment toward Hastie for his role in the defamation trial.