Loose cannons

Mea culpa?

"While the GST is basically here to stay, it is now clear its benefits were grossly exaggerated by economists who climbed on the 'tax reform' bandwagon." — editorial in the May 26-27 Australian Financial Review, one of the chief media advocates of the GST.

What's the public sector for!

"Can you imagine, in any other industry and in a free market environment, where a company fails and its competitors have to bail it out." — Insurance Council of Australia president Raymond Jones complaining about NSW Treasurer Michael Egan's plan to impose an annual tax of $69 million on insurance companies to help fund the NSW government's $600 million rescue package for victims of the HIH collapse.

Like sacrificing quality for profit

"If it were one or two items then it would be a lot easier to tackle. But it's all embedded in the culture of everything we do." — Ford Motor Corporation CEO Jac Nasser commenting on the recall of 50,000 four-wheel drive vehicles because they may have horizontal cuts in their tyres caused by a jagged edge along the assembly line of Ford's Louisville plant. Only a few weeks Ford before recalled 56,000 new Explorers because they might have loose rear-hatch windows that can shatter when the hatch is shut.

That's reassuring

"We are about average." — Nasser again, comparing the quality of Ford's vehicles withe those of other auto companies.

From GLW issue 450