Hard times
"It is indecent that people should be spending this amount of money on a yacht race. You'll have to be prepared to spend $100 million to be in the America's Cup, and to me that is indecent ... I have been forced out." — Challenge Australia syndicate head Syd Fischer, complaining that the America's Cup is now only for billionaires, not mere millionaires.
Bloody tie
"I think in terms of allies around the world, we are the greatest ally the United States has in good times and bad. And there is a relationship there that has gone on for a long time. It is a tie that is indefinable. It is a blood tie, and it will continue." — John Major, asked if Britain's future was mainly as part of Europe.
Unlike the Timor Gap treaty?
"I don't believe the actions of Portugal ... in trying to stir this issue along in the international community has [sic] done very much at all for the human rights of the Timorese people." — Australian foreign affairs minister Gareth Evans at a March 18 press conference in Portugal.
Free market — I
"We are not rezoning any land ... and not forcing people to make any decision. [We have made it possible] for local industries to go where they may have been deemed to be prohibited by the councils and the courts — it is a matter for the local government whether the land is zoned industrial." — Director of the NSW Department of Planning, Gabrielle Kibble, announcing greater discretionary powers for local government in siting hazardous industries, March 18.
Free market — II
"Our annual subscription was enough for only 20 issues. We've asked readers to subscribe afresh, but the Russian government doesn't seem to be able to organise it. All the papers are complaining." — The editor of Pravda, former daily paper of the Soviet Communist Party, announcing its closure.
Liberal
"I do object strongly to Big Brother wanting to come into my backyard and compel me to do something." — Former NSW Liberal Party president John Valder, threatening to resign from the party if the Greiner government doesn't change legislation requiring fences around backyard swimming pools to reduce drownings of young children.
Parliamentary man
"I was never going to let the party down by making a direct answer when that would have generated confusion, slowed down the process of change ... [this led to] longer sentences with more sub-clauses than otherwise might have been the h Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock discussing his reputation for long-windedness.
Hope
"As long as the party does not waver even for 100 years, the country will be able to maintain long-term stability and hope." — Recent headline on all major national newspapers in China.