The former special forces soldier who served in Afghanistan, was sacked from the Standby Reserve, a wing for former active army members, this week after refusing to comply with orders to remove a 2009 photo of him wearing his uniform from election campaign billboards and flyers. Canning MP Andrew Hastie says he won't remove photos of himself in uniform from his federal election campaign material. Credit:Nathan Hondros On Thursday, the Department of Defence confirmed Mr Hastie's service had been "terminated" for breaching strict rules designed to protect the apolitical nature of the ADF. Speaking on 6PR radio in Perth, the backbencher said officials were using policy to try and push him around. "I had to decide whose authority I answered to," he said.

"After reviewing the constitution, I came down on the position it was the people of Canning. As a federal parliamentarian, I don't take orders from the military." Former prime minister Tony Abbott campaigned with Mr Hastie on Wednesday. Mr Hastie said the photo gave voters insight into his personal history, including his 13 years in the ADF. "I'm proud of that and I think it's good to let taxpayers know that their money, a lot of which has gone into my professional development, has been well spent. "There's no form I've signed. When I left the military they transferred me to the standby reserve, which is a dormant pool of ex-serving members. There is no training obligation and you don't even parade," he said.

"I've kept it quiet because I wanted to protect Defence. I got the termination notice, no worries, crack on. It was always a side show. I'm more interested in helping people in my electorate. Labor candidate for Brisbane Pat O'Neill was also asked by the ADF last month to remove pictures that showed him wearing army fatigues. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann backed Mr Hastie's refusal to remove photos on Thursday. "Andrew Hastie has made the right decision in my view. I support him 100 per cent in the judgements he has made," Senator Cormann said. "He has provided distinguished service to Australia as an SAS soldier, including in Afghanistan, before joining the Parliament.

"It is entirely appropriate for him to present himself putting forward what he has done in the past, in order to ensure that people in Canning have a good appreciation of who he is and what he has done."

A Department of Defence spokeswoman said Mr Hastie had been contacted and asked to remove the photos. "As a condition of their service, regular and reserve members of the Australian Defence Force are obliged to comply with various Defence instructions and policies.

"ADF members are therefore not permitted to participate in any political activity in uniform, unless they are pre-approved to do so by an appropriate authority," she said. "Regrettably, Mr Hastie did not comply with this request. "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. "Mr Hastie's service has since been terminated," the spokeswoman said. Lieutenant General David Morrison declined to comment.