The Parliamentary Service says it is unwilling to settle an employment dispute with the person Speaker Trevor Mallard accused of being a rapist.
Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero has been outlining his thoughts on an employment case to MPs. Photo: RNZ / DOM THOMAS
Mallard faced a defamation case over his comments, in which he claimed an accused rapist was working on the premises.
The case cost taxpayers $330,000.
It was revealed in December there was also an employment case with the staffer, who was stood down shortly after Mallard's comments.
Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero appeared at a select committee this morning.
He told MPs he did not want to settle the case outside of court.
"I'm not willing to settle with anybody that I believe has done something wrong. If we get taken to the court and we lose, I'd rather lose because we've done the right thing and we haven't paid money to someone who's been accused..."
Mallard publicly apologised for his comments about the former staffer in early December and again when he appeared before the Governance and Administration Select Committee later that month.
Last month the National Party failed in its attempt to move a motion of no confidence in Mallard over the incident.
Shadow leader of the House Chris Bishop told media afterwards that National's fight was not over.
"We'll continue to put the motion on the order paper and continue to seek leave to have it debated," he said.
