Loose cannons

All in the game

"It's like treasurers lying about budgets. There are some things you're allowed to be slightly dishonest about in politics without giving away the game." — Former NSW Liberal police minister Terry Griffiths, explaining why Liberal parliamentarians deny his claim of a move last year to depose Premier John Fahey.

Fashion note

"Please do stop saying we are the blue-rinse set ... Blue rinses are so out of date." — Resident of the blue-ribbon Liberal north shore Sydney seat of Bradfield, quoted in the January 31 Sydney Morning Herald.

Science

"The sad truth is that economists aren't very good at forecasting what will happen in the economy over the next 12 months. Their science just isn't up to it." — Ross Gittins, resident economist of the Sydney Morning Herald.

Leadership

"Senior [Liberal] party and business figures estimate that Howard's return to the leadership could boost corporate-sector contributions — the party's main source of funds — by $2-5 million in the leadup to the next federal election." — Business Review Weekly, February 6.

Invasion

"The Australian Democrats are concerned at the precedent set by a siege of imported log trucks determining public policy making." — From a press release by Democrat Senator Robert Bell of Tasmania.

From GLW issue 174