Shrewd pragmatists
"This would have to be the greatest own goal in the history of the NSW right." — ALP assistant secretary Damien O'Connor on the NSW electoral distribution, carefully engineered by the ALP head office to give Labor an advantage; instead it reduces the government to a notional minority.
Do let us know
"We don't hear enough about what distinguishes NSW from Peter Reith's approach on industrial relations ..." — A NSW ALP "insider", quoted in the March 30 Sydney Morning Herald, worrying about the state government's image with voters.
Boris may sue
"He's not quite in the Boris Yeltsin class at this stage, but getting there." — A "Liberal source" on Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett, quoted in the Bulletin.
No compromise
"The legislation is likely to compromise the ability of Australian commerce and industry to compete in existing and emerging foreign markets ..." — A submission to parliament from the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, opposing a bill that would outlaw bribing officials in foreign countries.
Alive again
"Kids can make shooting and hunting come alive again." — Slogan in the catalogue of a US gun manufacturer.
Not interested
"Conflict of interest arises where you have a collision between your public duty and your private interest. If you don't have a private interest, how can you have a collision?" — Prime Menzies John Howard, in response to a disclosure that he was a director of the Menzies Research Centre in October 1996, when his government gave it an annual grant of $100,000.
Complications
"You have more business men and women coming into the cabinet and it gets more complicated and that's why I think it needs to be looked at again." — Government Senate leader Robert Hill, suggesting that John Howard's "code of conduct" for ministers might need revision, since no-one seems able to follow it.
The alternative
"Making Genghis Khan look like a social worker." — Another federal Labor MP on frontbencher Mark Latham's economic policies.