Loose cannons

Than who?

"The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Downer, believes Australia will have to be less outspoken on human rights if it wishes to integrate more fully with East Asia." — Sydney Morning Herald, October 11.

Most things are

"For too many in our party, the culture of picking up a telephone, of backgrounding the media, is easier than an honest day's work." — Victorian ALP leader John Brumby on leakers in other factions.

Punchy

"A team should be a close-knit one. It is necessary to work like one clenched fist." — Russian President Boris Yeltsin, sacking Alexander Lebed.

Change of heart

He played "a little half-trick" on us. An embarrassed Coalition Senate leader, Robert Hill, after Greens senator Bob Brown's motion that the government support self-determination for East Timor was adopted unanimously last week because both major parties thought the other would vote against it.

They never do

"Ministers should not intentionally mislead the parliament or the public." Federal minister for Employment, Senator Amanda Vanstone, apologising to the Senate for fabricating a millionaire family which received Austudy, to justify cuts to the program.

Economic rationalism

"The company that holds the [US] government contract to manufacture the Medal of Honor — the nation's highest combat decoration — admitted it sold 300 unauthorised medals for $75 each." — Wire service report.

From GLW issue 251