Larry Williams Drive

The Deputy Prime Minister is downplaying the controversies surrounding Speaker Trevor Mallard as he gets set to leave Parliament.Mallard will call time on a 35 year career in August to take up a diplomatic posting in Europe.Most recently, he sparked controversy by turning the sprinklers on the protesters outside Parliament and trespassing Former Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.Grant Robertson told Heather du Plessis-Allan few people who have been in politics that long would get away without controversy.“He might’ve had to apologise on occasion, but I think his overall record puts us in a good place for him to be able to represent us.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.