Parliament sex-assault claims: Jacinda Ardern ticks off Speaker Trevor Mallard over debate comments
5 May, 2021 02:06 AM
3 minutes to read
PM Jacinda Ardern said what happened in the debating chamber Monday night was totally inappropriate . Video / Derek Cheng
PM Jacinda Ardern said what happened in the debating chamber Monday night was totally inappropriate . Video / Derek Cheng
Jason Walls is a political reporter for the New Zealand Heraldjason.walls@nzme.co.nz@Jasonwalls92
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has given House Speaker Trevor Mallard a very public dressing down, saying his conduct in the House last night was totally inappropriate .
But she stopped short of heeding National and Act s call to sack Mallard as she said resignations would not resolve the underlying issues which led to last night s debate.
Henry Cooke17:24, May 05 2021
RNZ
Trevor Mallard has been under fire recently and his conduct has bought into question the entire role of the Speaker of the House.
OPINION: People hate politicians. Last night it was easy to see why. Indeed, the debate on Tuesday night about Trevor Mallard’s defamation case and the sexual assault allegation at the centre of it made it easy to see something else too: Why women are often terrified of coming forward with complaints about sexual misconduct in the workplace. The conviction rate is low, the court process horrid for many, and if your complaint concerns a workplace like Parliament, it could soon become a political plaything.
• Source:
The controversy over rape allegations made by the Speaker against a former staffer and his subsequent apology has again exploded in Parliament, with Trevor Mallard now accusing the man of sexual assault.
Your playlist will load after this ad It’s the same man Trevor Mallard previously apologised to for a false rape accusation. Source: Breakfast
Appearing before the House as the minister responsible for Parliamentary Service, Mallard mounted a defence of his actions which resulted in a defamation settlement costing taxpayers more than $330,000, and an apology for distress and humiliation caused.
He apologised to the man last December and said it was incorrect of him to give the impression the man had been accused of rape.
Claire Trevett: The unedifying spectacle of the Speaker v National in Parliament
4 May, 2021 11:53 PM
6 minutes to read I will support the woman and what she said, I will support the investigation that found that he seriously assaulted her said Trevor Mallard during last night s debate.
Video / Parliament TV I will support the woman and what she said, I will support the investigation that found that he seriously assaulted her said Trevor Mallard during last night s debate.
Video / Parliament TV
Rarely has there been a more unedifying display in Parliament than that put on by the Speaker and National MPs on Tuesday night.
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.