National’s empty actions

Speaker Trevor Mallard. Photo: NZ Herald

The mistake in writing to Mr Mallard, expressing National’s confidence in him being significantly shaken, can be seen for what it is — empty.

The main Opposition party criticised Mr Mallard for telling the media a National MP had described Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as a "stupid little girl" — a comment it says has never been proven.

Indeed, apart from media reports, no proof of the comment has been found and the debate hinges purely on whether Mr Mallard did hear the offending comment.

Mr Mallard confirmed he did tell a journalist he heard the comment, something adding to the offence being taken by National.

On May 9, when the "stupid little girl" comment was said to have been made in Parliament, Mr Mallard called for a National MP to apologise for a "very sexist remark". Nobody owned up and Mr Mallard would not repeat the comment when Gerry Brownlee asked what it was that had apparently been said.

Clashes between Opposition parties and the Speaker are not uncommon, but National is also criticising Mr Mallard for his attempt to tighten question time.

Mr Mallard has a system of docking questions when he is displeased with an MP. This resulted in National deputy leader Paula Bennett storming out of the debating chamber in frustration. She claims the system is arbitrary and unpredictable, and makes it hard for the Opposition to do its job.

As National’s shadow leader of the House, Mr Brownlee wrote to Mr Mallard concerned about the "arbitrary taking of questions from the Opposition and the disruptions to proceedings".

All the while the furore was happening in Wellington, National Party leader Simon Bridges was in Otago and Southland, on his meet-the-people tour. Before becoming the Speaker, Mr Mallard was a no-prisoners type of MP. He long coveted the role of Speaker, moving to the Labour list before the last election with the expectation of gaining the position should Labour win the election.

As far back as most people in New Zealand can remember, New Zealand speakers have at one time or another got offside with MPs from all sides of the House.

Police Minister Stuart Nash objected when he was likened to a "naughty child" by Mr Mallard and NZ First MP Shane Jones objected when the Speaker docked three questions for laughing.And it is not just in New Zealand.

British Speaker John Bercow is under investigation for bullying behaviour at the Houses of Parliament. Mr Bercow has been in the job for nearly nine years and wants to continue. A Tory, Mr Bercow received strong support from Labour MPs to win the vote to become Speaker on the third ballot. He remains distrusted by some of his own colleagues.

United States Speaker Paul Ryan is being described as a "lame duck", underlying the divisions within the Republican Party.In New Zealand, the governing majority appoints the Speaker and the vote is usually unanimous.

Mr Bridges, who at the time was not National leader, scored some major wins against Labour by threatening to derail Mr Mallard’s election. National gained some extra seats on select committees in return for support.

But National has let itself and its supporters down by a petulant show in the House.

When push finally came to shove during the following question time, a day after Mrs Bennett walked out in high dudgeon, Mr Brownlee caved.

National needs to turn to itself now and find a way to repair the damage done to its image with its supporters and detractors alike. It is not enough to challenge Mr Mallard in the hope of gaining a tactical advantage.

Bluffs can only be called so many times before evidence or action needs to be provided.

Mrs Bennett is not providing the sort of leadership National requires when Mr Bridges is out of the House. Truculent behaviour as shown by National has no place in Parliament.