‘He has socialism at heart’: Billy Bragg lauds his friend Albanese as right man for job

The pair last met at the Fairgrounds Festival in Berry, NSW, in 2018, where the then opposition infrastructure spokesman hosted an hour-long discussion about pop and politics with the singer.

Bragg, who has also recorded and performed cover versions of famous socialist anthems such as The Internationale and The Red Flag and written protest songs about Rupert Murdoch’s influence on the media landscape, has appeared on ABC television Q+A and its long-running British equivalent Question Time.

He said that the Australian electorate had rejected “such divisive politics” and offered “hope to all of us fighting against the rising tide of populism”.

“Obviously, for me, there’s the added joy of seeing my old mate Albo become the Prime Minister of Australia,” he said.

Albanese has regularly quoted lyrics from his favourite musician during his career and had billed himself as “DJ Albo” over the years at ALP gatherings and fundraisers. Among those on his regular set-list are Midnight Oil, Bruce Springsteen, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, the Pogues, Pixies, Joy Division, Nirvana and Bragg.

Shortly after becoming Labor leader in 2019, Albanese referred to another song from the “The Bard of Barking” – Bridges Not Walls from his 2017 EP – saying, “as Billy Bragg said, not everything that counts can be counted”.

Bragg said the challenges Albanese faced were “daunting” and he did not envy him his success.

“Some of us just sing about making the world a better place – he now has the responsibility of delivering on that promise,” he said.

“The people have given him a mandate for change – to create a new Australia committed to acting collectively in the common good. I know Albo is the right person for the job. He has a socialism of the heart.”