Mallard apologises to parliament for punch-up

Cabinet minister Trevor Mallard apologised to Parliament today for the fight in the lobby and Speaker Margaret Wilson said she was not going to ask the Privileges Committee to hear a complaint about it from Rodney Hide.

That is almost certainly the end of it as far as Parliament is concerned, although Hide is still considering going to the police.

Mallard punched Henare last month after the National MP had made a remark in the debating chamber about the minister's private life.

Prime Minister Helen Clark punished him by moving him off the front bench and taking away his economic development and sport portfolios.

When Parliament sat today Mallard was on the second bench, dealing with his new portfolio as Minister for the Environment.

Before business began he asked to make a personal explanation.

"On Wednesday the 24th of October I was involved in a physical fight in the lobby," he said.

"My involvement was inappropriate especially for a Member of Parliament. I apologise to you Madam Speaker and to the House."

Mallard has previously apologised to Henare, and the apology was accepted.

Before Parliament began, Wilson issued the letter she had written to Hide rejecting his privileges complaint over the stoush.

She said the ACT Party leader did not raise the matter in time and had not done it the right way.

"If a member wishes to have the Speaker refer the matter to the Privileges Committee, the member must act immediately. "This you failed to do," she said.

Wilson said the question of whether the Speaker's control should be extended beyond the chamber was a matter for the standing orders committee to consider.

"Offensive or unbecoming references to members' private affairs have become all too common in the chamber," she said.

"They create disorder and I and the other presiding officers intend to deal with them very firmly in future."

Hide said he was disappointed by Wilson's response.

"It is difficult to imagine what constitutes a breach of privilege if punching an MP in the head does not," he said.

"The Speaker's decision not to refer my complaint to the privileges committee sends a very poor message throughout New Zealand."

Hide previously said he would lay a complaint with the police if Wilson did not call in the privileges committee.

Today he said he was considering his options for taking the matter further.

source: newshub archive