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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 14 Hansard (10 December) . . Page.. 5193 ..

MRS CROSS (continuing):

If fact, it is interesting to hear Mr Quinlan say "seething antipathy to the ALP"before he referred to Lady Astor, whom we now know he really is. There is no antipathy to the ALP. I can assure you, this was not anti-ALP or anything. This was about making sure that the money that is supposed to go to the community goes to the community, and not to any political party or political individual. I am not surprised that Ms Tucker did not support this. (Extension of time granted.)

Yes, I did accept a donation in reference to that. I saw how excited Mr Quinlan got, getting up with his little list and his papers, and all his figures. I was thinking, "We all have that list."We all have lists of figures. We have yours and you have ours. How exciting it is. At the end of the day, this is what this matter is about.

It is about this: I, as a candidate, accepted a donation from a club which happened to be supported by friends of mine. Yes, I did. In fact, I did penance for that when I realised that that money came from poker machine profits. I did 10 Hail Marys and 10 Our Fathers and I went to my Greek church twice. Both priests-Queanbeyan and Kingston-forgave me for that. I said, "Lord, our father, I will never accept another donation from a club now that I know how this money is obtained."I thought-

Mr Quinlan: Has she been drinking? How was your dinner?

MRS CROSS: Fortunately, it never includes alcohol, Mr Quinlan, unlike the dinners of some of your people. In all seriousness, Mr Speaker-

Mr Hargreaves: Mr Speaker, on a point of order: there is an imputation there and I would like it withdrawn.

MRS CROSS: Is there?

Mr Hargreaves: Yes, there is.

MRS CROSS: There was no imputation, Mr Speaker. Can we get the breathalyser out? Mr Speaker, out of respect to you-

Mr Hargreaves: Come on, that is about the third time she has thrown it away. I just let it slip through like what's its name through a goose.

MR SPEAKER: Order! There are many people who have alcohol with dinner and it is not really an imputation that anybody has done anything wrong.

MRS CROSS: No. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: I think, though, Mrs Cross, it might be considered a bait by somebody and it might be better if you do not use such tactics.

MRS CROSS: What? Being honest? I understand, Mr Speaker.

I went to confession-not that I go to confession very often because I do not seem to need it-and I did lots of Hail Marys and Our Fathers. I was forgiven by the Lord and I said that I repented and would never accept another donation. That is the reason I took

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