NT politician invokes Taylor Swift lyrics in response to serious question

It was only a matter of time, but Taylor Swift has been inducted into the pantheon of Western philosophy.

The immortal lyrics of Tay-Tay's 'Shake It Off' were quoted by Attorney-General John Elferink from — where else — the Northern Territory amid questions about mandatory alcohol treatment programs, ABC reports.

"I'm a very sensitive person, but I turn to the great American philosopher T-Swift," Mr Elferink said.

"Some players are going to play, play, play.

"Others are gonna fake, fake, fake.

"Well I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake — Shake it off."

The minister's rhetorical invocation of the country-singer-turned-princess-of-pop was not met with much praise by other, less enlightened parliamentarians.

"Okay, thanks," one replied.

"I think we're all a lot smarter," said another sarcastic philistine.

Or, to quote Napoleon Bonaparte: "In politics, stupidity is not a handicap."