Peter Dunne weighs in to row between Speaker Trevor Mallard and National MPs
NZ Herald.
Former MP Peter Dunne has weighed in to the parliamentary rancour swirling around Speaker Trevor Mallard’s rulings, accusing him of “compromising the presumed impartiality” of his role.
Dunne, who was a minister in Labour and National governments, said Labour member Mallard seemed “hell-bent” on changing the role of Speaker from its traditional independence from political bias.
Mallard declined to comment when approached by the Herald this morning. Expressing his opinions in a political column, Dunne notes National has labelled Mallard a bully following the speakers ejection of Opposition Leader Simon Bridges from the house this week and the sanctions imposed on National MP Nick Smith.
“Mr Mallard revelled in being Parliament’s resident bully boy when he was in Opposition. And he was good at it.
“But trying to reprise the role from the Speaker’s chair to protect the Prime Minister and batter the Opposition is not acceptable. If he carries on this way, he will achieve the dubious honour of being remembered as the Speaker who brought Parliament into disrepute.”
Smith was suspended from Parliament for 24 hours after Mallard “named” him following a dispute over the release of a report on testing drivers for drugs.
Mallard had ejected Smith for disorderly behaviour. The departing Smith shouted abuse at Mallard, prompting the Speaker to order him back in to face a naming motion.
Dunne said Mallard had overreacted, as he had over the “barnyard” noise Bridges was alleged to have made but had denied uttering.
Being “named”, Dunne said, meant an MP was suspended, initially for 24 hours but in rising amounts if the offence was repeated, and deprived of salary and the House’s resources.
Is there a process in place to officially be able to remove Mallard from the position of Speaker? Or as I suspect, like the COL, we are stuck with him and the rest of them until the election. The whole 9 yards is an utter sham.
I reckon a motion of No Confidence in the speaker whilst failing due to the COLL voting against would send a strong message to ardern & mallard especially if there is no precedent.
Do have to wonder what it will take for such a motion to be passed. If Trevor can do unprecedented things why shouldn’t National?
The trouble is Labour’s last speaker set the bar so low Mallard is still almost acceptable based on precedence.
Worst Government ever. Worst speaker of the house ever, even worse than that screaming mad Wilson woman.
Fuck you mallard. Karma can’t come quick enough.
There is no way Nick Smith “shouted abuse” at the speaker, he certainly made a forceful comment while leaving, but it could not ever be interpreted as abuse. Another “reporter” making shit up to fit the anti national propaganda.
Trev is hearing things again. Just like the “Silly little girl” comment he said came from the Nats. It was all in his head again. Early onset dementia?
Nick’s comment hit ‘the bone’ as the Duck knew it was true. Instead of sucking it up he made Nick pay – literally. Pot/kettle Trev.
The Herald claims that Smith shouted abuse at Mallard as he was leaving the chamber. Bull shit.
Another exaggeration.
Well, it had to be loud enough for Trevor to hear it, otherwise Nick would have been accused of saying it under his breath.
Peter Dunne has written some good, well thought out columns since leaving Parliament.
But I do not recall this coming out in all those years in Parliament.
(He may have given some good speeches in Parliament –I do not know as like most Kiwis I do watch or listen to it.)
I do (insert) “not” you are welcome 🙂
He is very staid, being able to balance sitting on the fence, except for when he stuffed up the RMA reform, big time, so it is easy to miss any pronouncements of his.