Why Sussan Ley Fired a GUN at a Sleeping Man in a Swag

A Glimpse into the Life of Sussan Ley

Sussan Ley, the Opposition Leader, has shared some personal and revealing stories from her past, offering a deeper insight into her life beyond politics. One particularly striking incident involved her confronting a stranger while camping in a remote town.

During a long drive from Sydney to Thargomindah in rural Queensland, Ley stopped to rest and set up her swag. While taking a break between the towns of Nyngan and Narromine in central New South Wales, she encountered a man on a motorcycle who approached her. The man lifted the visor on his helmet and said, “Ah, you’re here all by yourself, are you?” In response, Ley pulled out a semi-automatic rifle she had legally purchased from a gun shop in Queanbeyan, just north of Canberra.

“I’m here with my tall skinny mate,” she said, referencing US action star Clint Eastwood. Although the weapon wasn’t loaded, it was enough to scare the man away. Ley admitted that her hands were shaking as she waved the rifle in his general direction. She then drove off, heart pounding, to Thargomindah.

Ley’s story has captured public attention, especially as she is currently on the cover of the Australian Women’s Weekly. In a wide-ranging interview, she opened up about her childhood and her late mother, Angela Braybrooks, who passed away just days after Ley became the Liberal leader. Their final conversation was a video call, during which Ley’s mother could not really speak but still listened to what her daughter had to say.

Reflecting on the emotional toll of her mother’s declining health, Ley described the period as intense. Despite being sleep-deprived, she continued her campaign for the Liberal leadership. After winning the election, she rushed to the hospital in Albury, on the NSW and Victorian border, to be with her mother. “I held her hand, I talked to her about life and things we’ve been through together, and I hope she hears,” she told the Sunday Telegraph.

Ley also spoke about her mother’s legacy, calling her a trailblazer. Her election as Opposition Leader came after a close vote against Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor, with a 29-25 result. Before entering politics, Ley had a diverse career as a commercial pilot, farmer, and public servant. She has represented the rural seat of Farrer in NSW’s south-west since the retirement of her predecessor, former National Party leader and deputy prime minister Tim Fischer.

Ley famously changed the spelling of her first name from “Susan” to “Sussan” in her 20s after exploring numerology. She believed that adding an extra “s” would make her life “incredibly exciting” and ensure “nothing would ever be boring.” As a mother of three, Ley has the support of the party’s moderates, with some believing that having a woman at the helm will help win back female voters.

Her journey from a small town to the forefront of Australian politics is a testament to her resilience and determination. Through her experiences, Ley continues to inspire and connect with people across the country.