Berejiklian draws a surprising and tenuous link between Sydney buses and Gorbachev

This is one transport connection I never expected anyone, let alone Gladys Berejiklian, would make: The million-kilometre-plus buses date back to the Cold War era. "Some of the buses on the roads today were commissioned before Mikhail Gorbachev became leader of the Soviet Union," she said.

Mikhail must be on her mind. Of course Ms Berejiklian needn't have made a FOI application to get similar info, as Wikipedia tells us all about these dogged diesels in detail. And she can sate her newfound bus interest at the Bus and Truck Museum, too. Admittedly the world has moved on since Gorby was in power, but I don't think he had much to do with the purchase of the long-lasting diesel Mercedes buses in question. Perhaps we should have stuck with Leylands instead? Now I wonder how long we hung onto those green and cream Leyland and AEC single and double deckers way back when? Anyone like to hazard a guess around the 20 year mark?