Clarkson lays privilege complaint over incident with manila folder

Bob Clarkson

National MP Bob Clarkson has laid a privilege complaint after Cabinet Minister Trevor Mallard allegedly whacked him around the ears with one or more manila folders.

National senior whip Lindsay Tisch said yesterday it was a serious matter when one of the party's MPs was allegedly assaulted in Parliament.

Mr Tisch said Mr Clarkson had laid a privileges complaint with Speaker Margaret Wilson because the Speaker must act to uphold standards in the House. "To hit someone in Parliament is just not on, and the decorum in Parliament is determined by the standard of the members and senior Cabinet ministers need to be held to account."

Mr Clarkson said yesterday he had been sitting in Parliament when Mr Mallard came up behind him at the end of question time and hit him over the ears with one or more manila folders.

It came after Mr Clarkson had ruffled feathers by holding a sign saying "Corrupt people" and an arrow pointing towards Labour's benches.

Mr Clarkson said he had held up the sign as he saw Mr Mallard on his way out of the debating chamber.

He had been having a laugh with fellow MP David Bennett when Mr Mallard came up behind him and whacked him about the ears.

It had come as a shock because he had not seen Mr Mallard coming. He did not take it seriously at the time and had certainly laughed afterwards.

"I'm a fairly tough nut, I think. I mean, it wasn't a blow to kill me or anything," he said on National Radio.

But his attitude changed after talking to colleagues.

"One of the senior MPs on our side had actually seen it happen and he said 'look, that's intolerable ... if you had done that to him, not only would the National hierarchy have torn [you] to pieces, but Mallard would have taken [you] to task, so you had better do something about it'."

Mr Clarkson said if Mr Mallard had confirmed afterwards that it had been a joke then it would not "have been so bad", but he was offended by Mr Mallard later calling him a wimp.

Mr Mallard yesterday said he had been telling Mr Clarkson to behave himself "and jokingly having him on".

"He moved his head which may have touched a manila folder I was holding. I certainly didn't assault him and he was laughing before and afterwards. He is meant to be a real Kiwi joker, he should stop squealing like a baby."

- NZPA