What other side?
"If the Labor Party doesn't, the other side of politics will force it on the agenda." — NSW ALP Premier Bob Carr on his plan to privatise the state's electricity industry.
Crying all the way to the bank
"No-one is more disappointed than the company itself at this decision." — Pierre Boppe, chief executive of Hong Kong Shanghai Hotels, announcing the company's decision to build ugly blocks of flats, rather than a less ugly and less profitable hotel, obscuring views of the Sydney Opera House.
Fortunately, I didn't pay them
"The Accord was not without its costs." ACTU president Jennie George at the ACTU congress.
Now?
"We now have an industrial relations system which sets out ways and means to reduce wages and working conditions." — ALP leader Kim Beazley, speaking at the ACTU congress.
Want to buy a pup?
"Competent ... compassionate ... loyal." — ACTU secretary Bill Kelty describing ALP leader Kim Beazley after the latter's speech.
Saved them the trouble
"I have no doubt that if we had totally opposed the [Workplace Relations Bill], the government would have used industrial relations as a double dissolution trigger ... would have won the subsequent election ... would have been able to pass its original legislation intact." — Democrats leader Cheryl Kernot explaining to the ACTU congress why the Democrats voted to pass the government's industrial relations legislation.
World's most improved union leader?
"Compromise is the essence of improvement." — Bill Kelty commenting on Kernot's speech.