MPs challenge House Speaker Trevor Mallard for the moment of his apology for false rape accusation

MPs are challenging President Trevor Mallard in the House over the timing of his apology to someone he falsely accused of rape.

Parliamentarians are upset that his statement of apology was published at the same time as the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the March 15 terrorist attack.

But Mallard said he released his apology “as soon as possible.”

And some MPs are calling for Mallard to publicly reveal how much taxpayer money was used on lawyers and mediators involved in the issue.

Before Question Time today, House National shadow leader Chris Bishop asked Mallard if he intended to make a statement in Parliament regarding the apology.

In a statement yesterday afternoon, distributed to members of the press gallery, Mallard apologized for the “anguish and humiliation” that his statements caused the individual and his family.

That followed the comments he made in May last year to RNZ, when he said: “We are talking about serious sexual assault, well, to me that is rape … that is the impression that the report gives me, yes.”

At the time, he was talking about findings in the Francis Review that revealed that there had been a number of sexual assault cases in Parliament.

In yesterday’s statement, Mallard said he was wrong.

A statement in the House would mean that the apology would be permanently on the written record of Parliament.

But Mallard was blunt in answering Bishop’s question: “The answer is no.”
“Part of the agreement is that I did not comment further.”

Then the leader of the Law, David Seymour, tried and pressed Mallard about his response.

Mallard noted that he has two roles: one as Speaker of the House and the other as Chairman of the House Service Committee.

He would not address the issue of his apology in the House in regards to his latest role.

But Seymour insisted: “I think the House would like an explanation and I urge you to reconsider.”

“You present yourself as a spokesperson campaigning against bullying and harassment,” Seymour said.

“There are serious concerns raised in the media and I think it owes it to the House, regardless of any private agreement it has in any capacity to give an explanation of why it chooses to release this information, while the country was tangled up and digesting Real. Investigation Commission “.

In response, Mallard said the matter at hand came to a close yesterday: “I published the statement as agreed.”

“The matter was agreed on Thursday or Friday of last week and I posted it as soon as possible.”

Before entering the House, Greens co-leader James Shaw said it was his party’s view that New Zealanders should know how much taxpayer money was being spent on the issue.
Seymour had the same opinion.