Loose cannons

Or a new system

"When you try all the tools in your toolbox and they don't work, then you have to try a new tool." — US Treasury secretary Paul O'Neill on attempts to revive the Japanese economy. He didn't suggest what the "'new tool" might be.

Since the WA and Queensland elections

"I've been kicking and screaming to fix the problem." — Federal treasurer Peter ("The Smirk") Costello, responding to ABC 7.30 Report presenter Kerry O'Brien's suggestion that Costello had been "dragged kicking and screaming" to introduce a yearly GST Business Activity Statement for small businesses.

Dead man walking

"There has developed over the last month a widespread perception amongst political commentators, based almost overwhelmingly on the results of two state elections ... that a change of government at the federal level is near inevitable ... I recognise that ... as with all perceptions it is always based in some part on reality." — Prime Menzies John Howard, at a Liberal Party fundraiser in Sydney, February 22.

Or up your sleeve

"[It] would be palpably stupid of me to say ... that there is absolutely no prospect of any change in the level of petrol excise in the future. I'm certainly not going to say that ... My position on all these things is you always have to have things on the table." — The Prime Menzies again.

From GLW issue 438