Inspired research
"Want to improve the lot of welfare beneficiaries? Cut the benefits. That's the conclusion to New Zealand Treasury research ..." -- Financial Review, March 6.
Save it for pensioners?
"There is something wrong when you want to beat up your colleagues in the House." -- New Zealand National Party backbencher John Banks, claiming he was assaulted by Deputy PM and NZ First leader Winston Peters.
Secret
"Australian organised criminals are fast adopting the characteristics of big business, according to a secret National Crime Authority report." -- Financial Review, March 7.
Aren't they?
"For the salary the Prime Minister, Mr Howard, is paid, he should be running a medium-sized business ... His board of directors -- the Cabinet -- who earn considerably less, would be sales managers, according to executive head-hunters." -- Christopher Dore in the Australian, March 8.
Between me and Suharto
"It's none of your business, do you understand?". Judge Sjoffinan Sumantri of the Central Jakarta District Court, responding to PRD activists who said they would not testify against Budiman Sujatmiko because the trial had been engineered to ensure his conviction.
Stop press
"Australia's political parties have become `narrowly based, factionalised, undemocratic oligarchies', according to the Clerk of the Senate, Mr Harry Evans." -- Michelle Grattan in the Financial Review, March 10.
Silver linings
"Of course, if somebody stays in the resort and pays for the room, there is no reason for us to reduce the rate because of specific weather conditions." -- The manager of the Hayman Island resort, responding to guests who were not allowed to leave because of Cyclone Justin and who were being charged $420 a day to stay in their rooms.
Thinker
"When you have a recession, it's because you have no economic growth and your jobless rate goes up ..." -- The prime menzies, John Howard, demonstrating that he stayed awake during university economics classes.
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