Loose cannons

Like a politician's speech

"To explain those words can make them more obscure." — Tony Branigan, executive director of the Federation of Australian Commercial Television Stations, on regulations limiting when "gratuitous" or "exploitative" nudity or violence can be shown.

Unfortunate

"It's most unfortunate timing." — Ron Coghill, chief executive of the Defence Health Benefit Fund, on the decision to raise the fund's rates 22%, wiping out most of the federal government's 30% rebate for private health insurance.

Positive

"I want to be positive. I would like to try and have a document of reconciliation." — Prime Menzies John Howard, rejecting a document proposed by his own Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation.

Absurd

"The notion that this case was about money is absurd." — Minister for Employment Services Tony Abbott on the defamation case in which he, his wife and Peter and Tanya Costello won a $277,000 judgment against Random House.

Neo-conservatives?

"Both the Abbotts and the Costellos have declined to follow a courtly old custom of donating such damages to charity." — David Marr in the Sydney Morning Herald, March 6.

Name the policy

"We talked loud in opposition, but when push came to shove [in government] we failed to deliver the principled and forthright policy we promised." — Laurie Brereton (on the ALP's East Timor policy).

From GLW issue 352