Loose cannons

Principles

"We want to make life as difficult for them as they made life for us ... they used their numbers on the floor to block sensible, rational legislation ... they can count on us using all the forms and procedures and every tactic in the book to give them some of their own back." — Peter Collins, leader of the NSW Liberal opposition, on his plans for dealing with the new state ALP government.

Land of Looney-Tunes

"Some Idaho law makers may betray Idaho ... Hence the need to shoot them. Go up and look your legislator in the face, because one day you may have to blow it off." — Samuel Sherwood, an Idaho (US) talkback radio host, on air.

Stop press

"James Douglas Packer has enjoyed a meteoric rise since he began working in his father's media empire eight years ago." — Business Review Weekly.

Safety net

"The increased inequality [in Australia in the '80s] was not just the rich getting richer. The poor were also getting poorer and would have done so much more if it were not for the social security system ... [without that support for incomes] we might have had a revolution." — Professor John Nevile of the University of NSW, addressing a Committee for Economic Development of Australia conference.

Which ones?

"There is no point in continuing to hold this out as the reform that will make our grandchildren prosperous. This ought in some way to benefit some people now." — Professor Fred Hilmer on his proposals for competition policy.

Fortunate

"Politics is largely about good fortune, and I've had some of that." — ALP MP and former minister Alan "Sandwich Shop" Griffiths, announcing his retirement from parliament.

From GLW issue 185