May 07, 2021
Mallard squawk a test for parliamentary privilege
Hit the Road Jack is Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi’s waiata for parliament’s speaker Trevor Mallard.
This week in his role as the minister responsible for Parliamentary Service, Mr Mallard was goaded into accusing a former parliament staffer of sexual assault.
This is the same staffer he had apologised to after accusing him of rape.
Mr Waititi says it was an abuse of the parliamentary privilege to speak in the House without fear of defamation proceedings.
"You're an elected member. Everything should be transparent and you should be respectful of everybody you represent. But if you can go into a place and have the safety of a chamber where you can't be held accountable for the words you use and for your behaviour I think is appalling and I don't agree there is such a thing as parliamentary privilege," he says.
Rawiri Waititi says the Prime Minister should be asked if she still has confidence Mr Mallard should continue to hold the role.
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