Jul 30, 2026 – 5.57pmSenior Liberal Andrew Hastie has defended leaking a covert recording to the media, telling the West Australian Supreme Court he feared the McGowan Labor government was plotting to use his electorate as a “dumping ground” for toxic soil.Hastie took the stand in Perth on Thursday in developer Greg Poland’s defamation case against Nine Publishing, publisher of The Australian Financial Review, over two articles based on a leaked tape Poland claims was illegally obtained.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles
Hastie defends leaking covert tape over fears of ‘toxic’ dumping plot
Senior Liberal Andrew Hastie told a court he feared the McGowan Labor government was plotting to use his electorate as a “dumping ground” for toxic soil.
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