INDEPENDENT NEWS

Sensible compromise on smacking ban rejected

Published: Mon 20 Nov 2006 03:07 PM
20 November 2006
Sensible compromise on smacking ban rejected
National Party MP Chester Borrows says Labour and the Greens know they are lining up responsible parents for criminal convictions with the tabling of the Crimes (Abolition of Force as a Justification for Child Discipline) Amendment Bill.
"The Labour and Greens members on the select committee ganged up to reject my compromise amendment to the anti-smacking bill, a compromise that was checked by the Law Commission.
"Parents have a right to know they live within the law. This bill removes that protection and does not act in the best interests of children.
"I am proposing an amendment that will filter serious incidents so parents who should be charged cannot hide behind Section 59. At the same time it will allow parents who lightly smack their children occasionally to be protected from prosecution.
"The commonsense amendments will ensure Section 59 can be cited only as a defence on the three most minor assault provisions; will ban the use of cruel and degrading applications of force; and will not allow any harm which is more than transitory and trifling."
Mr Borrows says the Labour majority on the committee has stonewalled efforts to reach a sensible compromise.
"It has been disappointing to see the blinkered approach of those backing a smacking ban. For them it appears to be all or nothing, with nothing in between."
National Party select committee member Nicky Wagner agreed.
"I believe there are better ways of dealing with issues than smacking. Parents need lots of different parenting strategies but I don't think they should be criminalised for the occasional light smack. "No one wants kids to be abused - we must have heard that from nearly every submitter to select committee - but there is a huge difference between child abuse and the disciplining of children with the odd smack."
ENDS

Next in New Zealand politics

Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
By: New Zealand Government
Parliamentary Network Breached By The PRC
By: New Zealand Government
GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan
By: New Zealand Government
Tax Cuts Now Even More Irresponsible
By: New Zealand Labour Party
New Zealand Provides Further Humanitarian Support To Gaza And The West Bank
By: New Zealand Government
High Court Judge Appointed
By: New Zealand Government
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media