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The man who sued President Trevor Mallard for a “rape” comment has an ongoing employment case against the Parliamentary Service, it has been revealed.
The president was questioned by the government and administration select committee Wednesday afternoon for a defamation against him that has cost the taxpayer $ 333,000.
National Party MPs are calling for the president to resign over the matter.
Mallard said he almost immediately regretted describing the string of sexual assault allegations in a parliamentary culture review as “rape,” but did not apologize for the matter earlier as it soon turned into an employment issue and later in a legal case.
ROBERT KITCHEN / Things
Trevor Mallard speaks while in the background a Taxpayers Union mascot holds up a fake bill.
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He said he did not resolve the matter sooner, as the man accusing him of defamation was seeking $ 450,000, about three times what he ultimately received.
MALLARD: I DIDN’T CONNECT THE COMPLAINTS WITH THE MAN
A member of the parliamentary staff launched a case against Mallard, who said he was intimidated by the Speaker of Parliament after Mallard falsely described the “sexual assault” allegations as rape.
Mallard had been discussing a “sexual assault” allegation contained in Debbie Francis’ review of Parliament on Radio NZ in 2019, when she said she interpreted it as rape.
“We are talking about serious sexual assault, well that, for me, that is rape. That’s the impression the report gives me, ”Mallard said.
ROBERT KITCHEN / Things
National Party MP Chris Bishop was among those who questioned Trevor Mallard.
Mallard said that he had not linked these allegations to this individual in that interview, and that he did not know about the case.
But later that day, when a new investigation was opened and the man was removed, Mallard said a hazard to women had been removed from the building.
Parliamentary Service Executive Director Raf González said the man still had an open employment claim against the Parliamentary Service, which had cost about $ 37,500 in legal fees so far.
THE SPEAKER APOLOGIES
The Spokesperson apologized to the staff member at the center of an issue at the beginning of the select committee hearing, saying that 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.
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.
ROBERT KITCHEN / Things
Trevor Mallard faced a harsh reception from national MPs who have been calling for his resignation.
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 being done to improve the culture of Parliament. That’s something I regret. “
He also reiterated that the decision to change the rules so that any president’s legal costs were covered was made in a bipartisan fashion and the specific decision on his legal costs was made by Vice President Anne Tolley, not him.
A member of the Taxpayers Union lobbyist held up a fake bill while wearing the group’s pig mascot costume during the committee meeting, but was asked to leave before the questions began.
Members of the public cannot make political statements while observing a select committee.
National Party leader Judith Collins has said Mallard has lost National’s trust and should resign.
She told Radio NZ on Wednesday that she wanted a direct apology and a resignation from the spokesperson.
“It is not simply the fact that it has cost an enormous amount of money, but it has actually cost a former member of the Parliamentary Service staff 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 president 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.”
