Politicians (previous quotes now in a PDF file)

'There has to be a greater synergy between, let's call it our policy leadership in this, which has been focused so much, legitimately, on targets and global architecture, almost reverse-engineered back to the means by which you can quickly deliver outcomes, and on the demand side in our economy we're looking at potential advances in terms of 20 to 25% range if you do this across the board. It all takes cost, but let me tell you it's probably the quickest lever you can pull given the challenges we face.' Kevin Rudd on climate change.

'Where it was before, which was in a preglacial position, we're now moving rapidly down the glacier … it's going to take a bit more to gelignite this thing into gear.' Rudd on getting an international deal on trade in the Doah round.

'The elephant in the living room — it is big.' Rudd on the global financial crisis.
'Rudd says he's no robot, yet he talks like one', Michelle Grattan in The Age . Thanks to Geoff who says it looks like our PM was educated in Queensland - see quotes in Education.

'This is huge for them, huge for the name brand of Geelong...'
Victorian Premier, John Brumby, on Geelong winning the AFL Grand Final in 2007.

'It's not good for us, but it keeps the New Orleans brand out there.'
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin's take on murders in his city. Anti-violence activist Baty Landis said:
'New Orleans is not a brand, it's a city. We're not products. We're people with lives.'

'Well, he's certainly, by certain standards, well he's certainly by some standards a dictator. I mean there's no doubt about that.'
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer talking about General Musharraf. ABC Lateline . And on the election:
'Well, what we do know is that we have a very strong team. I mean that is what we do know. We know who the team is. Our ministers are well known. They are well known as administrators if you like, they are well known as administrators, they are well known as ministers, they are well known as politicians, they are well known for the policies they pursue.'

'I will resign as a minister in the Howard government if there are any substantial changes ...'
Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey on what would happen if substantial changes were made to Work Choices laws if the Howard government is returned to office(and it wasn't)...

'I said I was sorry they occurred. I don't think I used the word apology ... I think there is a difference between the two things. I think we've been through that debate before in the context of something else.'
PM John Howard on interest rate rises.

‘It is great to see the spatial industry making real progress towards enhancing what it can deliver to both private and public sectors.’ The Special Minister of State, Gary Nairn, announcing in a press release 'a number of new initiatives to drive the development of spatial technology and enablement.' Thanks Peter Anson

'We have a stake in the future. We've built a platform whereby we can now have a stake in the future, look at the big problems going foward.' Senator Helen Coonan on the upcoming Federal election on ABC Radio National, 14 Sept.

'On what he was saying last night it's a bit confused. It's not clear to me what he was saying last night. The truth about Labor's industrial relations system is it's all about going forward.' Julia Gillard making everything clearer after the Paul Keating interview.

'Every now and then you've got to make creative choices in terms of talent available.'
Kevin Rudd, ALP leader, on Labor's latest recruit, Nicole Cornes. 'Star recruit takes rain check on tough issues', The Age

' I think it's about the most poll defiant thing that I've done in the whole of my prime ministership '
John Howard on sending Austalian troops to Iraq (ABC Radio: AM)

And from the masters:

Sir Humphrey: 'Complicated, lengthy, expensive, controversial. And if you want to be really sure that the Minister doesn't accept it you must say the decision is courageous.'
Bernard: 'And that's worse than controversial?'
Sir Humphrey: (laughs) 'Controversial only means this will lose you votes, courageous means this will lose you the election.' BBC

'But I hope now that the family can get on now with the burial and they can come to terms with their grief and the process can move on to establish the truth through these inquiries.'
Peter Costello,'Treasurer apologises to Kovco family' ABC News (thanks to John Blahusiak)

'... iconic compass points in the Australian calendar year...'
Senator Joyce commenting on proposed IR legislation, ABC Radio News, 23 Nov 05. Thanks to Charlie Myres who explains, ' ICPs have replaced public holidays'.

'These are careful, balanced, evolutionary proposals - taking us forward to meet the challenge that we have in the future.'
Former Australian Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews, The Australian, 17 November 2005 (thanks to Matt Williams)

'Mr Howard would not give further details, citing operational security reasons ( 2 Nov)... You will understand that there are sensitive operational matters and I cannot and will not go into any further detail (Howard, 31 Oct) ... The department strives for transparency in our operation to the extent possible in light of security and operational requirements ... (Philip Ruddock 29 Oct) ... Thirdly, the Bill would exclude access to remedies for unfair dismissal where an employee is dismissed on operational grounds ... (Senate inquiry, 1 Nov)
Thanks to Karen Dacy who asks 'what does it mean?'

(previous quotes now in a PDF file)

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