mallard_rnz.jpg Speaker Trevor Mallard at the release of the report into bullying at Parliament. The independent report by Debbie Francis - ordered by Mr Mallard after a series of cases of bad behaviour - was scathing in its denouncement of a culture of serious bullying and harassment at Parliament. Some of the most serious accusations included allegations of sexual harassment, including three cases of serious sexual assault. Mr Mallard told Morning Report's Susie Ferguson it was his interpretation that people had been raped at Parliament. "We're talking about serious sexual assault, well that, for me, that's rape ... that is the impression I get from the report, yes."

Source: Otago Daily Times May 21, 2019 20:48 UTC