Loose cannons

Issue 

Mea culpa?

"While the GST is basically here to stay, it is now clear its benefits were grossly exaggerated by economists who climbed on the 'tax reform' bandwagon." — editorial in the May 26-27 Australian Financial Review, one of the chief media advocates of the GST.

What's the public sector for!

"Can you imagine, in any other industry and in a free market environment, where a company fails and its competitors have to bail it out." — Insurance Council of Australia president Raymond Jones complaining about NSW Treasurer Michael Egan's plan to impose an annual tax of $69 million on insurance companies to help fund the NSW government's $600 million rescue package for victims of the HIH collapse.

Like sacrificing quality for profit

"If it were one or two items then it would be a lot easier to tackle. But it's all embedded in the culture of everything we do." — Ford Motor Corporation CEO Jac Nasser commenting on the recall of 50,000 four-wheel drive vehicles because they may have horizontal cuts in their tyres caused by a jagged edge along the assembly line of Ford's Louisville plant. Only a few weeks Ford before recalled 56,000 new Explorers because they might have loose rear-hatch windows that can shatter when the hatch is shut.

That's reassuring

"We are about average." — Nasser again, comparing the quality of Ford's vehicles withe those of other auto companies.

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