Tough if you're not in business
"Addressing a conference of all Labor candidates and campaign directors ... [NSW Labor Premier Bob] Carr painted the Labor Government as a tough law enforcer ... and a keen promoter of business interests." — Sydney Morning Herald, February 1.
Justice Wood, where are you?
"The [NSW] Government would hammer home its law-and-order reforms ... which Mr Carr said had allowed police to 'assert their authority on the streets as never before'." — Sydney Morning Herald, February 1.
In case you were wondering
"The profession of the law has a strong ethical dimension, and seeks to attain the objectives of justice, truth and fairness, not simply the promotion of the self-interest of members of the profession or their clients." — NSW Chief Justice Jim Spigelman.
Image thing
"It's a credibility thing; it's about projecting a better image." — A spokesperson for Sydney Olympics minister Michael Knight, on plans to make International Olympics Committee members use buses during the 2000 games, rather than the private limousines and drivers promised in the Olympics contract.
Not wildly
"You can't expect everyone to be wildly happy about change." — Centrelink chief executive Sue Vardon on a survey showing extremely low staff morale as a result of swingeing staff cuts.
Tourist triumph
"Israel's National Parks Authority has authorised a private contractor to build a submerged bridge into the Sea of Galilee that would allow tourists to simulate Jesus Christ's walk on water." — Sydney Morning Herald, February 3.
Clear view
"I don't have any time for these people, the sort who want to stop logging just so they can drive through the south-west and see trees on both sides of the road." — Federal minister for forestry and conservation Wilson Tuckey.
Wants his money back?
"I came here hoping to be reassured that someone knows what is going wrong and what we need to do to fix it. I leave here feeling even less confident than when I arrived." — A US business person on the World Economic Forum of capitalists and government officials in Davos, Switzerland.