Time to go, Petro

The reality is that while Mr Georgiou may have been a good political apparatchik, making him a federal politician had as much chance of success as turning a sow's ear into a silk purse.

Being a senior party official in the backroom playing a Machiavellian role doing deals, crunching numbers and knocking heads together is totally unlike representing an establishment-based, eastern suburban seat such as Kooyong.

It is not as though Mr Georgiou has not had opportunities. Refusing the Prime Minister's offer for promotion to parliamentary secretary was not a good move. Running interference on the Government's mandatory detention policy also shows an amazing inability to be able to work within the party system.

Having stood for pre-selection and having been elected as a member of the Howard Government, the member for Kooyong has indeed taken the king's shilling.

For him to argue otherwise puts himself above party discipline and gives comfort to the Opposition.
Of course, members of Parliament are entitled to follow their conscience. At the same time, they should have the integrity and courage to realise that if the disagreement is as significant as this, then maybe it is time to move on.