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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 13 Hansard (19 November) . . Page.. 3693 ..
MRS CROSS (continuing):
processes during the term of an illness. In short, people cannot be sacked when they are on sick leave.
Clearly, the spirit and intent of the law didn't apply to him. The fact that Mr Humphries is incapable of extending common decency and humanity to a fellow colleague, as I then was, makes him unfit to hold political office, even in the Senate.
Mrs Dunne: Mr Speaker, I take a point of order. Mrs Cross just said words to the effect that Mr Humphries was incapable of human decency. This is unacceptable language-
MR SPEAKER: I don't think she said that.
Mrs Dunne: I am sorry, she did. You may have to go back and consult the Hansard, Mr Speaker, but I think those words have to be ruled out of order. They have to be withdrawn, along with the assumption and assertion that Mrs Cross made some time ago that Mr Humphries denigrated the findings of the Privileges Committee report. These words are not true. They reflect on Mr Humphries as a member of this place and they are unacceptable. I would submit, Mr Speaker, that what is happening here is that Mrs Cross is attempting to do the dirty work of the Labor Party. You don't have the guts to move a censure motion. They have suggested, Mr Speaker, that they will move a censure motion in respect of the Leader of the Opposition, and they don't have the guts to do it.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mrs Dunne, resume your seat. Mrs Cross, did you say that Mr Humphries was incapable of exercising human decency, or words to that effect?
MRS CROSS: Let me have a look. Yes, actually. I said:
In any other workplace common human decency, and indeed the Workplace Relations Act, requires that a person not be harassed or subjected to disciplinary processes during the term of an illness.
MR SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, I don't think-
Mr Humphries: It was later than that, Mr Speaker.
Mrs Dunne: There was another sentence after that.
MRS CROSS: Let me continue. I will read the next bit, Mr Speaker, just in case.
MR SPEAKER: Order, everybody! Mrs Cross, please proceed.
MRS CROSS: Thank you, Mr Speaker. The truth is that Mr Humphries saw a political opportunity-
Mr Humphries: Is she reading what she said before?
MR SPEAKER: I want to hear what she said before so that I can make a ruling on it.
MRS CROSS: Okay, Mr Speaker. I said:
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