Trevor Mallard spent $333,641.70 (and counting!) of taxpayer money on legal bills and a settlement after incorrectly accusing a Parliamentary staffer of rape.

Taxpayers should not have to cover the bill for Trevor Mallard’s careless accusations. He must commit to paying back the taxpayer money handed over to the accused staffer and the Labour Party’s law firm.

The Speaker is paid a taxpayer-funded salary of $296,000 – and he's about to get a plum diplomatic post in Europe – so he should have no trouble working out a payment plan with Parliamentary Services.