Showdown: Jackie Lambie takes on Waleed Aly on The Project
<p>Tasmanian politician Jacqui Lambie appeared on <em>The Project</em> on Thursday, squaring off with host Waleed Aly, in a <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2017/11/abc-boss-weighs-in-on-waleed-aly-rumours/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>showdown that had viewers captivated</strong></span></a>.</p>
<p>The one-time senator addressed a range of topics in the interview, where she admitted that she was “carrying a bit of baggage” but has been able to “move on”.</p>
<p>The interview had all the makings of a feisty appearance with Lambie, a vocal critic of Islam, expected to throw down with Aly, who is a moderate Muslim.</p>
<p>And for a moment, things looked dicey.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr">Former senator <a href="https://twitter.com/JacquiLambie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JacquiLambie</a> reflects on the dual citizenship saga, her time in Parliament and if she’s returning to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheProjectTV?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheProjectTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/peCx7iiUua">pic.twitter.com/peCx7iiUua</a></p>
— The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/933617544757313538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
<p> “When you’d go off on things like the sharia stuff, you didn’t really know that stuff very well, but you had a really strong view about it,” Waleed said.</p>
<p>“I wonder was that something that you look back on and think you could have done it better?”</p>
<p>“I think it could have been done better,” Lambie hit back.</p>
<p>“It could have been, knowing the topic. Knowledge is power, Waleed, as you’d know. You’re an academic. And the more you learn, the better off you’re going to be.</p>
<p>“I might not (have) had a grasp three years ago. I have a clear grasp now. There is one law and one law only, that is Australian law.</p>
<p>“Some will agree on this side and others won’t agree on this, that’s the truth of the matter. We can argue the point black and blue. Some will say it’s very moderate. That’s fine. No worries.</p>
<p>“There are many out there that are concerned about sharia law and there’s no doubt about that.</p>
<p>“If we make a better understanding, this country needs to learn there’s nothing wrong with bringing up a subject and putting it across the table and speaking about it, but respecting each other’s views and trying to get it out so we can sort it out.</p>
<p>“I think this country has been really bad at that. I think we still, in this country, are sitting in the 1970s where they think if we can’t deal with it, we sweep it under the carpet.</p>
<p>“If you don’t talk it out, you’ll never come up with the solutions that you need.”</p>
<p>Aly was speaking in reference to an appearance Lambie made on Q&A in Feburary this year, where Lambie has lashed out at Muslim activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied.</p>
<p>“We have one law in this country and it is the Australian law. It is not sharia law, not in this country. Not in my day,” she had said, during the controversial appearance.</p>
<p>What are your thoughts?</p>
