Envy of the playground?
"What happens to your five-year-old daughter who finds that the shares or debentures given to her as a present are suddenly made public?" — NSW National Party MP Duncan Gay, opposing a proposal that a register of parliamentarians' financial interests include family members.
Would that be a change?
"If our society wants only wimps who are incapable of making a decision and do nothing in their role as MPs, then proposals such as these are a sure way ..." — Liberal MP Phillip Smiles, also opposing extension of the register.
Polliespeak
"I think I've shown that I listen, that I care and that slowly we are getting the changes that we need." — Victorian Premier Joan Kirner explaining some of her unique qualities as she leads the Victorian Labor Party towards a landslide defeat.
Choice
"I'm saying abortion should not be in there, pro or con. It's a personal choice. The personal things should be left out, in my opinion, out of the platforms and conventions." — Barbara Bush, wife of US President George Bush, an anti-abortion hardliner.
Unbiased opinion
"I am being paid a fair amount ... I investigated this project closely before supporting it." — Melbourne-based racing driver Peter Brock, responding to questions on his role in promoting the just-opened M5 private tollway ... in Sydney.
Resounding silence
"Indonesian troops involved in homicide and serious assault got maximum sentences of 18 months while unarmed Timorese involved in a peaceful demonstration received sentences ranging from five years to life in prison." — From a report by the Australian section of the International Commission of Jurists. Foreign minister Gareth Evans has refused to comment on the report.
Recession
"We thought the recessionary trend would weaken. We judged a pick-up was possible. We were wrong." — British Petroleum chief executive David Simon explaining cutbacks of 11,500 jobs, mainly in Europe and North America.
And then flog it "What's important is that we get back to the whole notion of the importance of public things; where we regard public buildings, public service and service to the public as uplifting things." — Prime Minister Paul Keating, as he pushes the Labor Party towards privatisation of Qantas.