Prominent Victorian Liberal Sophie Panopoulos has branded therapeutic cloning for stem cell research "a depraved practice" and said the State Government was hypocritical for supporting it. Ms Panopoulos, the federal member for Indi in Victoria's north, said the State Government's support for embryonic stem cell research was inconsistent with its cautious approach on genetically modified crops. In her submission to the Lockhart Review into cloning and embryo research laws, Ms Panopoulos accused scientists pushing for more relaxed laws of misleading the public with dishonest language.