Luxon questions Mallard’s suitability for diplomatic role
WELLINGTON: National leader Christopher Luxon has questioned whether ‘‘parliamentary scrapper’’ Trevor Mallard has the diplomatic chops to be the ambassador to Ireland — but will not say whether he would recall Mr Mallard if he became prime minister next year.
Mr Mallard’s post to Ireland was confirmed on Tuesday and he is expected to take it up next January. He resigned as Speaker yesterday and Adrian Rurawhe is his replacement
Asked if Mr Mallard was suitable to be a diplomat, Mr Luxon said ‘‘I wouldn’t have thought that was his first calling.
‘‘Diplomacy and tact are not the skills I think that come anywhere near to mind when I think of Trevor Mallard.
‘‘Ultimately, it’s a decision for the Prime Minister as to whether he is the appropriate choice for the ambassador to Ireland or not. I’ve only been here 18 months and I’m the outsider to this place; he’s the inveterate insider and parliamentary scrapper.’’
However, he would not say if he became prime minister whether he would recall Mr Mallard, saying that was ‘‘hypothetical’’.
‘‘[We] would have a lot more pressing issues than diplomatic appointments on day one. There are enough other issues in this country we will be fixated on.’’
Mr Mallard will join his friend and former Labour MP Dame Annette King in the diplomatic ranks. Another former Labour MP colleague, Phil Goff, is expected to be announced as High Commissioner to London soon.
Mr Luxon said he was not opposed to former politicians becoming diplomats, pointing to Dame Annette as the High Commissioner in Australia as an excellent pick.
‘‘I do think sometimes it is appropriate that you’ve got a former politician in one of those roles. The reason is if they’re held in huge respect and they’ve got massive mana and skills and experience, you actually need the access of a former politician in some capitals.’’
Mr Luxon said Mr Mallard had a mixed record as Speaker — he had been welcoming and supportive of new MPs and had made Parliament more familyfriendly.
‘‘But the National Party has had serious concerns. We’ve had two motions of no confidence and I think he’s been quite uneven.
‘‘I think even if I go back and look at the debates of past years, the life has been taken out of the place so I hope we get a bit more free flow in debate going forward.
‘‘That’s why I think we are really looking forward to Adrian taking over.’’
Mr Mallard has had a chequered relationship with the National Party in his role as Speaker since 2017, including several efforts to mount motions of no confidence in him.
National has frequently accused Mr Mallard of bias in his decisions and reining in the debate too much.
It has objected to Mr Mallard’s false claim that a parliamentary staffer was involved in rape after an inquiry into Parliament’s workplace culture, and his handling of the parliamentary protests in February and March, including using music and water sprinklers to try to drive the protesters out.
That criticism was echoed by Act New Zealand leader David Seymour, who described Mr Mallard’s Ireland post as ‘‘an outrage’’.
‘‘To send someone with such a lengthy political rap sheet and zero diplomatic ability is an insult to our friends in Ireland.
‘‘He took the Office of the Speaker only to have the worst approval rating of any politician in modern history.
‘‘Now he’s being rewarded for his bad behaviour.’’ —