No alternative
“You give answers to the best of your intent and belief at the time, and if circumstances change, well, sometimes you have no alternative but to change.” -- Prime Menzies John Howard, about his decision as federal treasurer to reverse the tax promises of the Liberals' 1977 election campaign.
No experts
“I've always thought this is a little unfair that you're supposed to be an absolute expert on how a new tax system will operate in two years' time.” -- Treasurer Peter Costello, on the tax package he designed.
Simple
“We haven't bought them -- simply compensated them for their time.” -- Peter Abbott, head of production for Jana Wendt's Uncensored interviews, on the disclosure that some of the interviewees were paid.
We're relieved
“It wasn't money thrown at them; it was payroll tax relief.” -- NSW ALP minister Richard Face, on a $550,000 tax gift to a King Gee factory in the Hunter that has closed despite the government largesse.
Unread
“If people read [their insurance contracts], and most of us don't read them, then you'd see we're not covered for flood.” -- Mark Sheehan, spokesperson for the Insurance Council of Australia, after the Wollongong flooding.
He knows: he's tried
“You can't just thrust things down people's throats.” -- NSW treasurer Michael Egan, acknowledging that electricity privatisation is off the government's agenda until after the next election.
