Loose cannons

Royalty

"The royal visits were nothing compared to this." — A senior police officer in Hong Kong, on security arrangements for the visit of Chinese Premier Li Peng and Vice-Premier Zhu Rongji.

Benefits of competition

"One has to go back to the regulated, less competitive world of the early 1970s to find comparable margins [with today] between bank earnings and bond yields." — Reserve Bank deputy governor Graeme Thompson, observing that deregulation has not reduced bank profits.

Keeps trains on time

"Too much democracy is not conducive to results." — A business supporter of Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett, quoted on the ABC's Four Corners.

So has Victoria

"Mr Kennett, who sold his share portfolio after the Guangdong controversy last year, said his family had paid an 'obscene' price to allow him to continue in public life." — Sydney Morning Herald, September 26.

Spotlight especially

"... serving with quiet patriotism that seeks neither spotlight nor praise." — US President Bill Clinton, praising CIA employees on the organisation's 50th anniversary.

Ignorance is leadership

"In a way, I'm relieved." — Deputy PM Tim Fischer, asked by the Sydney Morning Herald if he was disappointed that John Sharp hadn't informed him about his altered travel allowance claim.

Well?

"The perception out there is that we are all fingering the till." — An unnamed federal government backbencher, quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald.

From GLW issue 292