An Australian politician has taken to quoting Taylor Swift during a parliamentary sitting to shake off attacks from the Opposition.

Northern Territory Attorney-General John Elferink was facing intense questioning from Nhulunbuy MP Lynne Walker about alcohol programs during an estimates committee hearing on Monday.

When the deputy chair of committees, Matt Conlan, brought her back in line for straying from the topic, Ms Walker apologised for offending the 'sensibilities' of the parliament.
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Northern Territory Attorney-General John Elferink broke out some Taylor Swift during an estimates hearing
Taylor Swift attends the 2015 Billboard Music Awards on May 17, 2015
Northern Territory Attorney-General John Elferink broke out some Taylor Swift during an estimates hearing

In response to the grilling he was receiving, Mr Elferink said he turned to U.S. pop singer Taylor Swift to get him through the pressures of work.

'I am very sensitive person, but I turn to the great American philosopher, T-Swift,' he said.

Mr Elferink continued on and quoted the superstar: 'Some players are gonna play, play, play; others are gonna fake, fake, fake; I am just gonna shake, shake, shake it off.'
His response was met with laughter before Ms Walker thanked him for his outburst.

In response to the grilling he was receiving, Mr Elferink said he turned to U.S. pop singer Taylor Swift to get him through the pressures of work
In response to the grilling he was receiving, Mr Elferink said he turned to U.S. pop singer Taylor Swift to get him through the pressures of work

NT Attorney-General shakes it off to 'T-Swift' in parliament
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The singer recently took home a swag of awards at the Billboard Awards
Swift is rumoured to be dating DJ Calvin Harris
The singer recently took home a swag of awards at the Billboard Awards, including Top Artist award

Mr Conlan added: 'I think we are all a lot smarter.' 

The NT attorney-general was making reference to the singer's number one hit, Shake It Off, which garnered a lot of attention in the Australian media earlier this year.

A social media campaign to get the song voted into Triple J's Hottest 100 took off just before the chart countdown, which is revealed on Australia Day.

But the song was not eligible as it was not played on the Australian radio station at any point during 2014.

He was quoting her number one song, Shake It Off. Pictured centre is Swift dancing in the music video
He was quoting her number one song, Shake It Off. Pictured centre is Swift dancing in the music video

Shake It Off garnered a lot of media attention earlier this year when a campaign to get it voted into Triple J's Hottest 100 took off

Shake It Off garnered a lot of media attention earlier this year when a campaign to get it voted into Triple J's Hottest 100 took off

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