Sussan Ley, faced with internal turmoil over climate and environment issues while trying to extinguish simmering challenges from a disgruntled backbench who want to philosophically reshape the very party she leads, has elevated a critical new political issue to the top of the national agenda.

The prime minister’s decision to wear a Joy Division T-shirt.

Opposition leader Ley was criticised by those inside her own party for instantly jumping on criticisms of Kevin Rudd after Anthony Albanese’s successful meeting with Donald Trump. Ley leapt too early, and once it was clear that few in her party were joining her – and that, by all accounts, Rudd had actually done a decent job – she backtracked on her own demands to sack the US ambassador.

Having learnt from that mistake, Ley waited fi

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