Loose cannons
Learned something
"I long ago stopped expecting to be treated fairly by the system." — Brian Burke, former ALP premier of WA, after his conviction for stealing from the ALP was overturned on appeal.
Perfectly ordinary
"He was on our ticket in 1995, but I think he is just an ordinary party member now." — Robert Borsak, chair of the NSW Shooters' Party, on Raymond Galea, charged with the murder of a man whose severed head was found beside the Cooks River in Sydney.
Especially after the next election
David Mortimer, author of the government's new handouts for industry report, told journalists that Prime Menzies John Howard said he "can't sleep at night for worrying about unemployment".
Surprise!
"He has listened to the needs of business and responded positively to many of the approaches to industry policy and business programs recommended by ACCI." — Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Mark Patterson on the Mortimer report.
Shut up and eat your dioxin
"Green groups which have raised concerns about toxic contamination at the Olympics site were accused yesterday of negativity that 'does damage to Australia'." — Sydney Morning Herald, July 19.
You know, what's his name
The July issue of Labor Herald, "the national journal of the Australian Labor Party", includes the text of a parliamentary speech by someone called "Kym Beazley". Wasn't he the deputy to former PM Paul Cheating?
Fred and Elaine, for instance
"He is acting in what he believes is the expectation of the community." — A spokesperson for NSW community services minister Ron Dyer, on Dyer's decision to reject a Law Reform Commission recommendation that gay couples be allowed to adopt children.