Loose cannons

Issue 

Trust him

"Coincidence." Alan Jones' explanation of why he gave an on-air rave in support of the controversial Sydney Walsh Bay development the day after signing a $200,000 contract with the developer.

Otherworldly

"I am not driven by these things." Alan Jones on whether he was influenced by his $250,000 contract with Walker Corp, which promised him bonuses if the company's share price rose.

Pot and kettle

"The station that is criticising us most on ["cash for comment"] is 2GB. And yet Graham Richardson is their breakfast announcer." — A radio 2UE employee quoted in the November 17 Sydney Morning Herald.

Ownership

"We're saying, 'Go away'. We own it." — Nine network executive Steve Wood, asserting that Nine's sponsorship of Sydney's fireworks allows it to stop other channels from filming Sydney Harbour on New Year's Eve.

Ring Kerry and ask

"A bloke, I suppose, could be forgiven for starting to wonder exactly who owns this country." — Actor Bryan Brown.

Ask a sheila who you are

"There's a big identity crisis in this country." — Bryan Brown.

Understanding

"I think I leave [Beijing] with a better understanding of some of the issues involved." — UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, after hearing the Chinese government's explanation of its persecution of the Falun Gong sect.

They're so slow

"My guess is that the people of NSW will take a long time to see the merits of the cases I've been putting to them." Michael Egan, treasurer of the state ALP government, on being asked whether he will continue to push electricity privatisation.

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