Former MP Chris Finlayson says Trevor Mallard’s vote of no confidence is ‘ritual garbage’

A former attorney general says Trevor Mallard’s reign as Spokesperson is safe – despite the disclosures, his bogus “violation” claim cost taxpayers more than $ 333,000 to settle. But he says Mallard should pay his own legal bill, not the public.

Mallard issued a personal apology this week to a former staff member whom he falsely accused of being a rapist.

He issued the statement the same afternoon from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch Terror Attacks, prompting claims that he was trying to hide his apologies on a busy news day.

It was later revealed that the saga had cost taxpayers $ 333,000 in ex gratia payment and legal fees.

National leader Judith Collins said the party has lost confidence in Mallard.

“This is unacceptable behavior on the part of the Speaker of the House. This huge amount of this payment illustrates how serious the matter is.

“Because Mr. Mallard has not lived up to the high standards of behavior that he has set for Parliament, we believe that he is no longer fit for the office of President.”

Former attorney general and former National Party MP Chris Finlayson told Newstalk that ZB Mallard would continue as president, despite the pay, because Labor has a majority in the chamber.

When asked if he was confident in Mallard’s role as spokesperson, Finlayson said: “It is not a problem because he will continue as spokesperson.”

Finlayson said that any vote of no confidence would be “ritual rubbish” that would go nowhere.

However, he had “an objection” to parliamentarians being compensated for libel suits.

“I think this all has the stamp of being a bit messy. If they open their mouths and sue them, they should pay the bill themselves.

“Very occasionally there will be those who propose through litigation to impose huge financial costs on a Member of Parliament, but that is a very rare circumstance.

“I generally don’t see why MPs as a class should be immune from the consequences of opening their traps.”

Finlayson said he had “had problems” with Mallard over the years.

“But I think that, to be fair, he is trying to be the man in Parliament and has raised the standards for Question Time because a lot of people are too lax in the questions they ask.

“If he kicks them in the pants, it’s not a bad thing.”

In terms of long-term repercussions, Finlayson said the situation will most likely be subsumed by other political events.

“I would say it has a few days to live and then it will bubble. I don’t think it will last long.”

In June of last year, Mallard said he believed a rapist was working in the parliament building.

It was the day after the publication of the Francis report, that he reviewed the parliamentary workplace.

The report found systemic problems of bullying and harassment, too often tolerated and normalized misconduct, and a perception of low responsibility.

Mallard himself commissioned the report after a series of cases of misbehavior.

Mallard had said that he believed a man was responsible for three serious sexual assaults mentioned in the review and that he believed the man still worked in Parliament.

His comments sparked a series of turbulent events that led to the parliamentary staff member being removed.

Mallard later said that a security threat had been removed from the facility.

After Mallard made the comments, the man told Newstalk ZB that he felt intimidated into leaving the building.

He said at the time that he wanted an apology for what he described as the “slanderous” comments from the Speaker.

Mallard has now apologized for the “anguish and humiliation” he caused the man.

The false “violation” claim cost taxpayers more than $ 333,000 to resolve.

The bill included an ex gratia payment of $ 158,000 to the former staff member to settle the defamation claim, and more than $ 175,000 was spent on legal fees.