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Spokesperson Trevor Mallard apologized to the man who took a defamation case against him and the public at the beginning of a select committee questioning a false rape allegation that cost the taxpayer $ 333,000.
He is being questioned by the Select Committee on Government and Administration, including members of the National Party, around 1 pm on Wednesday.
Mallard apologized to the employee at the center of an issue, saying he had an incorrect understanding of what constituted “violation” at the time. He also apologized to the public, Parliament and the women who came forward to the Francis Review.
Trevor Mallard will be questioned about the costly dispute on Wednesday.
A member of the parliamentary staff initiated proceedings against Mallard, who said he felt intimidated by the Speaker of Parliament after Mallard falsely described an accusation against him as one of rape.
Mallard had been discussing an allegation of “sexual assault” contained in Debbie Francis’ review of Parliament in RNZ in 2019, when she said she interpreted it as rape.
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“We are talking about serious sexual assault, well, for me that is rape. That’s the impression the report gives me, ”Mallard said.
This led to a storm of controversy when National complained that the speaker was harboring a criminal.
Later that day, a staff member was removed and Mallard said “the threat to women’s safety” had been removed.
The man sued Mallard and won both an apology and a payment.
ROBERT KITCHEN / Things
Judith Collins says the president should resign.
Mallard issued an apology to the media, apologizing to the man for the “anguish and humiliation” they caused him.
“Trevor Mallard agrees that his understanding of the definition of rape at the time was incorrect and that the alleged conduct did not amount to rape (as that term is defined in the Crimes Act of 1961) and that it was incorrect of him to suggest otherwise. , ”The statement said.
The case ended up costing the taxpayer $ 333,641, with $ 158,000 as payment to the man and $ 175,000 for legal fees.
Mallard said Wednesday that the mistake had distracted those who turned to the Francis Review and he regretted it.
“My mistake has diverted attention from their stories and the good work that is being done to improve the culture of Parliament. That is something I regret.”
He also reiterated that the decision to change the rules so that any president’s legal costs were covered was made on a bipartisan basis, and the specific decision about his legal costs was made by Vice President Anne Tolley, not him.
Since then, national leader Judith Collins has said Mallard has lost National’s trust and should resign.
She said RNZ on Wednesday he wanted a direct apology and a resignation from the president.
“It is not simply the fact that it has cost an enormous amount of money, but it has actually cost a former Parliamentary Service staff member his job and his reputation,” Collins said.
“We are not going to let this go.”
National does not have the ability to vote for Mallard as a speaker as Labor has a majority.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said Labor remains confident in Mallard as a spokesperson, despite the “mistake.”
National did not oppose Mallard’s election as president in late November, and Collins said the party “supports him in his role as Speaker of the House.”
