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President Trevor Mallard’s acknowledgment that a mistake has been made “serves as much” as an apology to Parliament, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said today.
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The Trevor Mallard legal dispute cost taxpayers more than $ 300,000. Source: 1 NEWS
Ardern was questioned today during her post-Cabinet press conference on the Mallard defamation case, which cost taxpayers $ 333,600 to resolve a legal dispute sparked by him incorrectly describing an allegation as a violation in Parliament’s bullying and harassment report. .
“He made a mistake,” Ardern said. “I’m not going to defend that.
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National revealed that taxpayers spent $ 333,000 to pay for the Spokesperson’s legal dispute. Source: Breakfast
“At the same time, he has also instigated work to try to make Parliament a place that meets our expectations of workplace safety, intimidation, safety for women.”
On whether she had sought an explanation, Ardern said that she and Mallard had spoken.
“What is particularly important to me, and also to him, is that he remains accountable to Parliament.”
The prime minister also said that “it is not his place to apologize.”
“He represents and serves on behalf of the whole of Parliament, but he absolutely recognizes that a mistake has been made, so I think that goes a long way.”
Today it was revealed that Mallard would appear in front of MPs from across the House on Wednesday for questioning and providing an explanation to Parliament’s Select Committee on Government and Administration.
Ardern said it was “the right thing to do.”
“My opinion is, and obviously he agrees, that he made a mistake. No one is debating that. Does that change my opinion that he is the right person for the job? No, it is not.”
Chris Bishop of National said today that “there were no apologies to Parliament, no statements or accountability” from the president.
“We think taxpayers deserve some answers,” he said. “If Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Labor Party, who ultimately must decide whether to trust the Speaker, do not hold him accountable, National will.”
