Loose cannons

Wednesday, February 3, 1999 - 11:00

Challenges

"These are challenges facing magistrates — and the whole of the justice system — to deal with matters expeditiously." — Jeff Shaw, NSW attorney-general, commenting on disclosures that the state's overworked magistrates sometimes reduce a person's "day in court" to as little as five minutes.

Demons like publicity

"Every time these things get publicity, there is a flood of people who think they are possessed." — Father Brian Lucas, spokesperson for the Catholic archdiocese of Sydney, on the pope's approval of exorcism.

How markets work

"The vast majority are almost sure to fail. That's the way the markets work in this regard." — US Federal Reserve chairperson Alan Greenspan, being philosophical about investors who will lose their money when the information technology stock bubble bursts.

Bird brains

"... the complete history of pigeons ... should be kept ... for reference by those who will be in charge of pigeon work should there be another war." — A 1945 recommendation to the British War Office by an agent of MI5, which worried during the second world war about "enemy pigeons" carrying messages for the Germans.

Small change

"John Coates would not need any approval to do that. It was not a board approval thing." — Graham Lovett, a former member of the Sydney Olympic bid committee, on Coates' promise of $50,000 each to Uganda and Kenya the night before the vote that awarded the 2000 games.

Theft continues

"Car theft is still a major problem, so there won't be any immediate reduction in premiums." — NRMA general manager Doug Pearce, announcing that a 10% fall in car thefts would not reduce the NRMA's charges for car insurance.