Loose cannons

Issue 

Some concern

"I have some concerns, particularly as some of the changes they [banks] have made are actually contrary to the recommendations in our report." — Dr David Cousins, head of the Prices Surveillance Authority, when banks raised fees weeks after a PSA inquiry urged that they not do so.

Been there, done that

"News Corp's 11pc rise fails to excite" — Headline of the Sydney Morning Herald article reporting that Rupert Murdoch's company had increased its profits to $1.34 billion in the year ending June 30.

Willing to wait

"No-one is foolish enough to be pressing a claim with the election so close." — An anonymous federal MP, explaining to the Sydney Morning Herald why MPs are not making submissions for increased entitlements to the Remuneration Tribunal.

No complaints

"I don't complain, as some people in the trade do, about the adequacy of political salaries." — Opposition leader John Howard, commenting on the fact that MPs have received pay increases of more than 10% since the middle of last year, and are due for another 5.6% before the end of 1996.

Silly old Dad

"My father absolutely hated the police; he thought of them as instruments of class repression." — Governor General Bill Hayden, who began his "rise" by joining the Queensland police after his father died in 1953.

Locals with attitude

"Fallout from Kingsford Smith's expansion has already permeated the attitude of many locals in Sydney's west." — Laurie Brereton, federal minister for large loud falling things, worrying about possible opposition to a second airport at Badgerys Creek.

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