Beginning of wisdom
"Now it seems we were just pawns." — Andrew McKellar, recruited as a wharfie for the Patrick union-busting operation but dumped when Patrick settled with the MUA. McKellar and another scab are suing Patrick and industrial relations minister Peter Reith.
Stop press
"Suggestions that advanced economies have learnt how to tame the worst excesses of the business cycle have been exposed as mere hubris." — Max Walsh in the October 20 Bulletin.
Surprise!
"We really thought the Russian bet was one of the better ones we made this year." — Julian Robertson, head of a hedge fund that lost US$600 million on investments in Russian debt.
Cleaning up the act
"They are brushing John Anderson down, in his new portfolio of transport and regional services, to make sure there's no pig dung left on him." — A spokesperson for the NSW Farmers' Association, on rumours that Anderson will replace Tim Fischer as National Party federal leader before the next election.
We noticed
"We aren't running an affirmative action program here." — An ALP right faction heavy, on why the faction has no women among its representatives in the shadow cabinet.
Competition
"If it's good enough for a Labor premier to lower the taxation rate, then it's certainly good enough for a Victorian Liberal premier to consider going head to head, toe to toe with him." — Jeff Kennett, vowing not to be outdone by Bob Carr's cutting of taxes on the Sydney casino.