05/05/2021
Watch: Newshub political editor Tova O'Brien dissects the drama on The AM Show. Credits: Video - The AM Show; Image - Getty Images
Parliament is in disarray following the explosive fallout of last night's war of words between Speaker Trevor Mallard and the National Party, with political editor Tova O'Brien comparing the escalating tensions to an "absolute powder keg".
On Tuesday night, the Speaker of the House - under parliamentary privilege - doubled down on allegations of sexual assault against a staffer. Mallard wrongly accused the same staffer of rape in 2019, with more than $300,000 of taxpayer money spent settling a defamation case the man took against the Speaker. He issued an apology, but continued to publicly defend the claim.