Jimmy's weblog

After years of being told over and over again that “Terrorists hate us for our democracy”, I was nearly convinced. Until today, when I found out that in the federal Liberal Party, it’s the terrorists who insist on democracy.

Sophie Panopoulos has accused her colleagues of holding the Government to ransom.

“There is an arrogance in the thinking by a few individuals who are at odds with the vast majority of the parliamentary Liberal Party and the vast majority of the Coalition party room to hold the Government to ransom on this,” she told ABC radio.

“If you spit the dummy because the vast majority of the people in your party won’t agree with you and you in effect behave as a political terrorist, well I think you actually lose credibility, I don’t think it’s a bad sign for the party at all.

Only in Sophie’s World are the terrorists the ones who want democratic debate about “..children and their families [currently automatically detained under immigration law] released into the community, all detainees freed after 12 months in detention, and permanent residency given to temporary protection visa holders.”

It’s amazing how a few years in Canberra can change your mind about politics.

TONY JONES: Sophie Panopolous, you’ve obviously made news since we last spoke — why do you want to be a politician?

SOPHIE PANOPOLOUS, LIBERAL PARTY: Well, I’ve always wanted to have a say and make a difference, and my recent involvement in the republican campaign gave me the confidence that you can go against powerful interest groups in this country and you can have a say and succeed against the odds.

TONY JONES: So have you decided now that you can rust[sic] politicians after all — they’re one of those powerful interest groups, aren’t they?

SOPHIE PANOPOLOUS: Politicians are humans and they’re subject to all human frailties and I think the more we concentrate power in the hands of politicians, the more trouble we’re asking for.