SURELY it was a joke? The prime minister along with state and territory leaders meet in Canberra to discuss counter-terrorism on the day Maxwell Smart dies.
What a wonderful tribute to the man who introduced the world to the shoe phone.
The top-secret round table discussion at the nation’s capital yesterday went a little like this:
PM: “Lower the cone of silence.”
Peter Beattie: “You were in London at the time of the bombings weren’t you John?”
PM: “Missed it by that much.”
Peter Beattie: “But what a way to spend your holiday.”
PM: “There are no holidays in the fight against evil.”
Steve Bracks: “Forget England; what about Australia? It’s KAOS out there!”
Paul Lennon: “Where’s 99? I want some tea and bickies.” (then leaning over to John Howard) “She’s a good sort that 99.”
PM: “I asked you not to tell me that.”
Paul Lennon: “Sorry about that chief.”
Geoff Gallop: “Western Australia is the safest state in the federation.”
(laughter all around)
Geoff Gallop: “Would you believe, the safest state on the mainland?”
PM: “I find that hard to believe.”
Geoff Gallop: “Would you believe the safest state in the west?”
Paul Lennon: “Stop! I have a gun… not on me, but I have a gun.”
PM: “If you’re trying to scare me you’re wasting your time. I don’t know the meaning of the word fear.”
Paul Lennon: “I want to join the Liberal Party.”
PM: “I think I just learned it.”
Peter Beattie: “We better get CONTROL of this or we’ll all get fired.”
PM: “They can’t fire me, I know too much.”
Paul Lennon: “Good thinking 99.”
* Apologies to Don Adams: R.I.P.

