2 June 2004
Smacking report vindicates Greens’ call for law change
Green MP Sue Bradford says new research confirming the negative effects on children of smacking completely vindicates
her efforts to repeal a law that provides parents with a legal defence for physical punishment.
A newly released Otago University report says physical punishment can turn children into violent offenders, lower their
IQ, lead to suicidal thoughts and is unlikely to teach them anything. Ms Bradford has a private members bill in the
parliamentary ballot that would repeal Section 59 of the Crimes Act, an initiative that is part of the Greens’ Every
Child Matters policy package. “This new report now confirms the link between punishment and development and shows that
ultimately society pays the price when parents smack their children,” said Ms Bradford, the Green Party Children’s
Issues Spokesperson.
“I view these findings as ‘common sense’, not the oft-repeated claim that low-level physical punishment is somehow
natural and reasonable.
“Section 59 creates a climate which allows a large section of the population to think that whacking kids is okay. I
can’t understand why a Government struggling to deal with rampant violence in society is sitting on its hands on one of
the key underlying causes. And I am sick and tired of CYFS copping all the blame, it is the adults around children who
beat them and the legal defence via section 59 has to be removed.
“The Government should have the courage of its convictions and be leading the debate by introducing a Bill to repeal
that clause in the law. It shouldn’t be left to the off chance that my private member’s bill will be drawn out of the
ballot.
“I applaud report author Professor Anne Smith for her statement that ‘nobody could say for certain where to draw the
line between moderate and severe physical punishment.’ If the definition of that line continues to be left to the courts
to interpret, abusers will keep getting away with claiming that what they were doing was either reasonable or a one-off
over-reaction. The only safe, unambiguous line is one of zero tolerance of assault against any member of society.
“Superficial public opinion surveys may suggest wide opposition to repealing section 59, but that is surely not an
entrenched viewpoint and hopefully this new report will go some way towards shifting attitudes.
“The Greens support well-funded parenting education, such as the newly launched SKIP, so all parents are made aware of
the many alternatives to smacks. Frankly, whacking kids is often just lazy parenting, its time adults recognised the
power they have over the most vulnerable members of society and not only showed self control themselves but condemned
those around them that physically punish their kids,” said Ms Bradford.
ENDS