I don’t see Bernardi’s move as wrong. He seized an opportunity which presented itself, for maximum benefit. Sun Tzu may well have approved. Besides, should Bernardi stay loyal to an organization which he no longer agrees with, spending years of his life on the back bench being ignored? Forget about loyalty, such a move might even seem like foolishness.

Should he have quit before the last election, and run as an independent? Perhaps this would have been more loyal. He could have been up the back with Bob Day. But I think he would have regretted not taking full advantage of the opportunity, as he has done.