David Carter defeats Trevor Mallard for Speaker role

  • Breaking
  • 31/01/2013

National MP David Carter has been voted as Parliament’s next Speaker, defeating Labour MP Trevor Mallard.

Mr Carter was then dragged to the Speaker’s chair – not an indication of his reported reluctance to take the job, but an old tradition.

Shortly before this afternoon’s vote, Labour had nominated Mr Mallard as its preferred candidate after saying MPs were unhappy that they had not been consulted about Mr Carter’s nomination.

Labour leader David Shearer tweeted that his party chose Mr Mallard because he is “passionate about Parliament, knows it inside and out and actually wants the job!”

Mr Mallard also received the support of the Greens, after “serious consideration of the merits of both nominees”.

In a statement, Greens co-leader Metiria Turei said they were concerned about Mr Carter’s comments about accessibility to Parliament for people with disabilities.

“Trevor Mallard demonstrated a clearer understanding of the issue, seeing it as an area for parliament to manage rather than a burden for an individual MP,” shd said.

Mr Carter replaces Dr Lockwood Smith, who is leaving Parliament to become New Zealand’s High Commissioner in London.

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source: newshub archive