Opposition leader Sussan Ley recounted a harrowing experience from her early days as a pilot during an exclusive interview with The Australian Women’s Weekly. Ley shared the story of a camping trip when she had to brandish a gun to protect herself from an unexpected threat.
After receiving her pilot’s licence, Ley embarked on a journey to Thargomindah, approximately 1000 kilometres inland from Brisbane, leaving her Coogee unit behind. One night, she stopped to camp on a remote stretch between Nyngan and Narromine. As she settled into her swag, she was startled by the sound of a motorbike, its headlights illuminating her campsite. When the rider approached, they lifted their helmet visor and questioned her solitude.
Drawing upon a movie line from Clint Eastwood, Ley replied cleverly, "I’m here with my tall skinny mate." Despite attempting to diffuse the situation with humour, the encounter took a threatening turn. Feeling vulnerable, she recalled having purchased a semi-automatic rifle from a gun shop in Queanbeyan during her trip, a legal acquisition at that time. Her father had given her firearms safety lessons before she embarked on her adventure.
In a moment of panic, she reached for the rifle lying beside her sleeping bag, managing to aim it toward the intruder. Although the gun was not loaded, the mere act of brandishing it seemed effective; the biker quickly retreated. Ley admitted that her hands trembled during the confrontation but was relieved that the situation diffused without further escalation. Following the incident, she hastily packed up and drove non-stop to Thargomindah.
Ley has since become a significant figure in Australian politics, making history as the first woman elected to lead the Liberal Party after her predecessor Peter Dutton faced a severe electoral defeat. This experience is but one chapter in her compelling story, illustrating her resolve and courage in the face of danger.