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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 11 Hansard (24 September) . . Page.. 3148 ..

MR SPEAKER: Well, if it has been said publicly but it impugns a member, it still runs foul of the standing orders.

MR HUMPHRIES: I understand that, Mr Speaker. I am just saying that these are things I have said in a public arena where, of course, defamation might be a factor. So I have taken some care in what I have had to say; that is the point I was making.

The working relationship between Mrs Cross and other Liberal MLAs has become untenable in recent months, in spite of significant efforts on my behalf to achieve a reconciliation. Requests to meet with Mrs Cross to discuss the problems have been unsuccessful. Difficulties such as these have made it very difficult to establish an effective working relationship with her.

This is an option of last resort for the Liberal Party, but it is, I believe, unquestionably a decision which is good for the Liberal Party and will allow us to remain focused on our party mission in this place-which is, of course, about holding up a mirror to the government of the day and to present a Liberal alternative to the programs and mistakes of the Labor Party.

The parliamentary Liberal Party has had a number of concerns, which it has expressed to Mrs Cross over a period of a number of months, concerning her portfolio responsibilities, her relationship with the party and her relationship with her electorate. In particular, there has been frequent non-attendance at party room meetings, meetings of the Assembly itself and other party fora, which has given rise to great concern. Mrs Cross has been counselled and warned on several occasions previously that her non-performance was a problem.

Mr Speaker, the step was taken yesterday to end that concern within the party room by having Mrs Cross no longer a member of the party room. I wrote to Mrs Cross last night explaining the reasons for the party room's decision and listing the occasions when Mrs Cross has been formally counselled, warned or had other issues of concern about her performance raised with her. Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table that letter.

MR HUMPHRIES: I thank members. I present the following paper:

Parliamentary Liberal Party-Expulsion of member-Copy of letter from Gary Humphries, Leader of the Opposition, to Mrs Helen Cross MLA, dated 23 September 2002.

Mr Speaker, this decision was taken yesterday after extensive debate and discussion and, I have to say, with great reluctance. The decision was felt to be in the best interests of the party.

Mr Speaker, I can say to the Assembly that it is now my intention as party leader to ensure that the party's focus remains on the job for which we have been elected to this place, and I feel comfortable in the knowledge that that will be more possible in the future as a result of the decision which my colleagues and I took yesterday in our party room.

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