Loose cannons

Frankly

"I was frankly horrified." — NSW Liberal MLA Phillip Smiles, telling the court how he felt when an officer of the Taxation Office told him he had incorrectly claimed as a business expense the wages of a nanny who was no longer working for him.

Controversy

"It must be remembered that history is well in the past." — Woollahra (Sydney) council member during a debate about suburban boundaries.

Over-optimistic

"I didn't mean to lie ... I thought I could do it." — Sacked Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa on his failure to carry out promised reforms of government and electoral corruption.

Comforting

"There was a time when I didn't think I could go on in politics, but that time has passed and there is the next election to think of." — NSW Liberal MLA Brad Hazzard, recalling the "Metherell affair", in which he had a small role and which led to the resignation of Nick Greiner as premier.

Can't tell a book ...

This photograph is from a glossy booklet produced by the Greek government to encourage foreign investment. The caption accompanying it reads, "Albanian entrepreneurs looking for business opportunities in Athens".

From GLW issue 104