The Opposition wants the Speaker to be up front about how much taxpayer money was spent defending a defamation claim.
Yesterday Trevor Mallard apologised for comments he made last year claiming a rapist was working on the premises.
In a statement he said it was incorrect of him to give the impression that the worker had been accused of rape, and apologised for the distress and humiliation caused.
But National and ACT say the timing is deeply cynical and Parliament and the public deserve an explanation.
Political reporter Yvette McCullough has more.
