Politicians (previous quotes in a PDF file)

Oakeshott at the tax summit yesterday:

I ENCOURAGE our minds to shift to one word, outcomes. Outcomes, outcomes, outcomes. Long-term outcomes, state and federal outcomes, Labor and Liberal outcomes, for-profit and not-for-profit outcomes. Whatever does your biscuit, the key from here is outcomes.

We have some known problems, and by leaving them unaddressed we will impact our standard of living into the future. What to date has been missing, and is our great challenge, has been getting these known problems with known answers into outcomes. Essentially what I am seeking are outcomes. At least five of them. It is surely not too much to ask.

Don Watson in Bendable Learnings (2009):

IMAGINE a world without outcomes, in which all input is meaningless, solutions unknown and utilisation of output of unimplementable. Such a world would be a black hole for all stakeholders. Believe it or not, just two decades ago the world was not outcomes-based. There were consequences, effects, results, eventualities, repercussions, corollaries, by-products, sequels, conclusions, harvests, aftermaths, denouements, offspring and outgrowths.
The Australian, 5 October, 2011.

'After meeting Victorian and Chinese students at the historic city wall of Nanjing in eastern China, Mr Baillieu promised to restore language programs in Victorian schools, lamenting what he said had been a ''language decline'' over the past decade. ''I'd say we have dropped the ball in terms of opportunities in front of us,'' Mr Baillieu said.' The Age, 26 September, 2011.

We would move forward in conformity with what was happening in the past.' Rick Santorum Republican candidate to an approving audience in Orlando Florida.

May God facilitate. From the conversation between Osama bin Laden's courier, Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti and a friend, overheard by US intelligence.

'A new bit of jargon has recently entered the Canberra lexicon. People talk about being in this or that ''space''. Just now, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott are both in the ''space'' of seeking ways to get Australians off welfare and into work.' Michelle Grattan, Sydney Morning Herald, 1 April, 2011.

Foreign Minister Rudd, referring to the proposed UN-sanctioned “no fly zone” in Libyan airspace spoke of the operationalisation of the UN plan. ABC 7pm news bulletin. Thanks to Ben Wadham.

Funds Re-Profiled to Assist with Flood Recovery
'Following consultations with the Victorian and NSW Governments, three infrastructure projects will be re-profiled in order to free up additional funding for the urgent task of rebuilding flood affected communities.' Media release from Anthony Albanese MP, 8 February 2011. Thanks to Ray Richardson.

Let's move Australia forward.
Julia Gillard - Let's move Australia forward
Together, let's move Australia forward
Julia Gillard on Health Care: Let's move Australian Forward
Labor moving forward to a soically [sic] inclusive Australia
Innovation to move Australia forward
The results of Helen Lewers' search on the ALP site. Thanks Helen.

'What we need is a multi-stakeholder platform.' World Economic Forum chairman Klaus Schwab. 'Jargon hunting at Davos 2011', Jonathan Lynn.

'Thank you for your email below regarding the agreement developed by environment groups, industry and unions to transition out of native forestry in Tasmania. ... The Prime Minister has announced the government will work towards the implementation of the agreement by, working with the Tasmanian Government to jointly appoint an independent facilitator to build an implementation plan for the principles in consultation with the signatories to the agreement.' An email fromGraham Perrett MP, Federal Member for Moreton. Thanks to anonymous.

'We are about ventilating all the issues.' Senator Eric Abetz on the Australian national broadband legislation. Thanks to Marg Morters

'The talk in Afghanistan is all about transition, the way in which transition will occur, the conditions that will lead to transition ... I dealt with this matter in the parliamentary debate and I've made it very clear that transition needs to be conditions-based ... I've been very clear. I think it would be a bad error to transition out only to have to transition back in ... I've got a very firm view that we need to be very clear that when we are transitioning our forces and transitioning leadership to local Afghan forces, that that needs to be irreversible. So there's some intellectual labour that needs to be brought to bear when we say we're going to engage in a conditions-based transition.' Australian PM Julia Gillard's interview with Laurie Oakes, 7 November 2010.

'The Prime Minister is strongly committed to a more accessible, open and transparent way of governing, and wants to hear about the matters that are important to you.' Prime Minister Gillard's website. Thanks to Alasdair McGregor.

(previous quotes in a PDF file)

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