Great expectations
"When you are working for the brother of the richest man in the world, you expect to have your bills paid." — The head of a British company owed £1 million by the failed company of Prince Jefri, brother of the sultan of Brunei, reported to have lost $20-25 billion.
Reality
"The king is not going to meet Jefri's debts." — An associate of the sultan of Brunei.
March of progress
"We are now able to look at the level of corporate failure across the country, week by week, and the type of failure." — Graeme Gribben, managing director of Australian Business Research, launching the Australian Insolvency Barometer.
But it's hers
"[The government's] profile is regarded as harsh and ugly by many who feel their concerns are being ignored." — Queensland National MP De-Anne Kelly.
A friend in need
"We need Mussolini here today." — Frank Curulli, One Nation honcho David Oldfield's warmest supporter in Manly, according to the July 11 Sydney Morning Herald. Curulli boasted to the SMH of being a fascist as a youth in Italy.
Found him?
"He [Mussolini] made the trains run on time." — Oldfield, in response to Curulli's remark.
Wolves to the slaughter
"This will be the worst thing to hit the party since the split in the '50s. There'll be blood everywhere." — A NSW Labor backbencher on preselection battles between sitting members, caused by a redistribution that abolished five ALP seats.
Sneak act
"I told him what a sneak act I thought it was. I told him I feel disgusted with him ... you are trying to destroy my life, you just want to prance in and take the seat I've worked for for 25 years." — Federal Liberal MP Stephen Mutch, on former NSW Liberal minister Bruce Baird, who is seeking Mutch's seat.