Labor leader David O’Byrne’s ‘good communist’ T-shirt image circulates amid ‘hard left’ concerns

An image of the Tasmanian leader emerges after it was revealed his new adviser is a former Communist Party member.

A social media post of Tasmanian Labor leader David O'Byrne wearing a ‘good communist’ T-shirt. Picture: Supplied

A photograph of Tasmanian Labor leader David O’Byrne wearing a “good communist” T-shirt has surfaced, hours after The Australian revealed his new chief adviser was a former Communist Party member.

A screengrab of the picture, apparently posted by Mr O’Byrne on a personal social media account last Christmas, was circulated by others on Monday night, after The Australian ran a story about his chief of staff, Grahame McCulloch.

Some within the ALP expressed concern about Mr McCulloch’s past membership of the Communist Party of Australia, as well as his more recent praise of communist and Marxist thinkers, and criticisms of the US alliance.

The photograph shows Mr O’Byrne and MP sister Michelle O’Byrne, each holding up a clenched first; Mr O’Byrne wearing a T-shirt that reads: “You don’t become a good communist by going to meetings or memorising the manifesto. You do it with your fists.”

In the post, Mr O’Byrne, who won the leadership earlier this month after powerbrokers of his dominant Left faction dropped support for incumbent Rebecca White, thanks Ms O’Byrne for the “strong contender for Christmas present of the year”.

While the photo might normally be laughed off, it comes amid a tumultuous time for the state ALP, which some members and MPs complain is controlled by “hard left” factional warlords.

There are splits within the Left faction, and the party more broadly, after internal spats cruelled Labor’s May 1 election prospects, while during the subsequent leadership battle contender Shane Broad likened Left faction leaders to school bus bullies.

The Liberals on Tuesday seized on the internal strife in Labor. “David O’Byrne has been there, done that and got the hard-Left T-shirt,” said senior Liberal minister Michael Ferguson.

“It‘s clear that Dr Broad was correct that Labor is dominated by a hard-Left factional group of powerbrokers, leaving them more divided than ever before.”

Mr O’Byrne is yet to respond to requests for comment. Mr O’Byrne has defended Mr McCulloch, these days an ALP member and committed social democrat, as having “a good knowledge of economic trends and a strong commitment to the role of private investment and businesses”.

The new Labor leader has also promised to unite the party.