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Housing Minister Clare O’Neil has slammed Opposition Leader Sussan Ley for her attack on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s leadership over her decision to wear a Joy Division band t-shirt five days ago.
Ley gave a speech to the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, condemning the T-shirt and accusing him of “displaying the wrong values”.
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Joy Division’s name dates back to World War II. It comes from the phrase used to describe groups of women held as sex slaves in concentration camps during World War II, and Ley argued that the prime minister’s decision to wear the outfit would further compound the suffering of Australian Jews already dealing with rising antisemitism.
O’Neil criticized Ley’s comments on Seven’s this morning Sunrise.
“Since entering politics I’ve seen the Coalition tread some pretty remarkable cul-de-sacs, but I think this one really takes the cake. I’m so blown away.”
“You know, this week our government is introducing ground-breaking reforms to bulk billing. We’re putting new contraceptives on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. We’re building more homes. We’re working to cut energy costs and the Coalition is focused on a T-shirt the prime minister wears. That’s all you need to know about Australian politics right now, a government focused on the things that matter to Australia, the Coalition a weird diversion that doesn’t change anything.” he attempts. makes sense.
O’Neil was joined by Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie, who broke with Ley on the issue and said she was more concerned about the government taking “tough action” on antisemitism in Australia.
“Listen to Claire, you might think this government is cracking down on homegrown antisemitism… Look, there is plenty to rightly criticize the prime minister about trillion-dollar debt, skyrocketing house prices and t-shirt-wearing job losses in our heavy industrial sector… So yes, take action on antisemitism,” said McKenzie.
