Andrew Hastie is effective in attacking One Nation, unlike his Liberal colleagues. So why won’t they use him? | Tom McIlroy

The member for Canning has stood up to Pauline Hanson, risked the wrath of Gina Rinehart, criticised WA opposition tactics and sat quietly behind Angus Taylor for months Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Amid the sometimes raucous scenes of question time in federal parliament this week, Andrew Hastie maintained a dignified silence. The Liberal frontbencher barely spoke, even as his colleagues pursued Labor over Australia’s newly minted $1tn national debt, controversial caps on veterans’ healthcare funding, and rising rental prices around the country. So evident was Hastie’s silence, day after day, that even Anthony Albanese motioned to the shadow minister for industry and sovereign capability at one point, asking what was going on. “When are you going to get a question? It’s been six months,” the prime minister was heard to say across the chamber to Hastie. The former soldier sits just behind the opposition leader – and his putative leadership rival – Angus Taylor. But, despite his silence in question time, Hastie has a bit going on. He has spoken regularly about the threat of Pauline Hanson’s surging popularity to the Liberal party, and