Sussan Ley goes after Anthony Albanese’s Joy Division T-shirt as the Coalition tears itself apart, again | Sussan Ley
Facing civil unrest over climate and environmental issues, Sussan Ley has moved a critical new political issue to the top of the national agenda as she attempts to navigate the growing challenges of a disgruntled rear group seeking to philosophically reshape the party she leads.
The Prime Minister’s decision to wear a Joy Division t-shirt.
Opposition leader Ley was criticized by those within her own party for immediately jumping into criticism of Kevin Rudd following Anthony Albanese’s successful meeting with Donald Trump. Ley jumped too early and backed down on his demands to sack the US ambassador when it became clear that few in his party joined him and that Rudd was actually doing a good job.
Having learned from that mistake, Ley waited five days this time to launch an even more bizarre and politically confusing attack on Albanese’s choice to wear a T-shirt by the seminal British post-punk band Joy Division as he left his plane upon arrival from Washington, D.C., last Thursday. Ditching the traditional suit and tie, Albanese breathed in the fresh air after the 24-hour journey by wearing a T-shirt with famous artwork from the band’s influential 1979 album Unknown Pleasures.
In a speech to parliament on Tuesday – his office helpfully typed it up and quickly sent it to the entire parliamentary press gallery in case you missed it – Ley claimed it was a “profound error of judgement”. He correctly noted that Joy Division’s name came from “the wing of a Nazi concentration camp where Jewish women were forced into sexual slavery.”
“At a time when Australian Jews are facing a rise in antisemitism and families are seeking reassurance and unity, the prime minister has chosen to portray an image driven by hatred and pain,” Ley told parliament on Tuesday.
Sympathy and sensitivity towards the Jewish community is, of course, a worthy goal in itself. But it’s important to note here that Australian Jewish groups haven’t exactly lined up in support of Ley’s comments on Tuesday. None of the major social organizations chose to support him or complain about Albanese’s sartorial choices.
A senior source at one of the most respected Jewish groups, which has no problem criticizing the Labor government at times, was stunned by Ley’s claims. They noted Albanese’s well-known history as a music fan and said they would complain directly to him if their band had issues with his attire.
Which they didn’t do.
Amid the sartorial confusion, Albanese was in Malaysia for international summits, a day after meeting the Chinese prime minister. While Ley criticizes her clothes published online he was “getting things done.”
Ley timed his remarks at the main point just before question time; This speaking slot has been used by shrewd politicians who hope their words will be picked up by early TV broadcasts or journalists entering the room. This is based on the fact that Ley wants his deranged words to be seen and heard.
One might ask why it took Ley five days to choose the fight. It’s also interesting to note that this happened the day after Sky News presenter Sharri Markson aired a segment on her TV show making points closely echoed by Ley’s statement.
Deputy minister Pat Gorman told the ABC: “This is a T-shirt from a band he’s a fan of… their music has been around for a few decades.”
“There are big problems in the world, I don’t think mainstream bands’ T-shirts are one of them.”
The origin of Joy Division’s name is well known. The band disbanded after the death of frontman Ian Curtis, and the remaining members formed New Order. Their famous single, Love Will Tear Us Apart, has been voted among the best songs of all time in numerous respected polls, ranking at number one as the best song of all time in both the 1989 and 1990 Triple J Hottest 100 votes.
David Rowe, professor emeritus of cultural studies at Western Sydney University and a student in the UK during the punk movement, said the band’s provocative name was specific to the period.
“It was pretty common for people to have shocking names or shocking ways of looking,” he said. “[Ley] “It seems to suggest a connection between the group and the Nazis, which is certainly nothing more than the connotations of the name.”
Joy Division’s heyday in the late 1970s coincided precisely with the history of the “punk era” and “rebellious teenage years” that Ley often mentions; This led him to add an extra ‘S’ to his name, Ley said. Ley has never mentioned any affiliation with Joy Division, but at a time when tensions are rising in his own party room, perhaps the lyrics of the band’s most famous song will not be entirely foreign ideas to the opposition leader:
“When routine bores you
And ambitions are low
And resentment rises
But the feelings won’t grow
And we change our ways
go different ways
Then love, love will tear us apart again.”
—Penry Buckley contributed reporting
