Larry Baldock Party Co-leader.
Jan 2nd 2008

A quarter of a million Signatures signal more bad news for the Government and its misguided supporters.

"If the PM thought New Zealanders would forget about her arrogant disregard for democracy when she forced through the Anti Smacking legislation in May she has more bad news on the way", said Larry Baldock, organiser of two Citizens Initiated Referenda and Co-leader Future New Zealand political party.

Mr Baldock announced today that the petition for a referendum that will ask the question, "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in NZ," now has a quarter of a million signatures towards the approx 300,000 required place the question on the ballot at this years election.

"Our experience all over the country has been that, rather than forgetting and slipping into apathy, many New Zealanders are more determined than ever to see this legislation repealed and their authority as parents returned to them," he said.

In an interview on National Radio Dec 21 Sue Bradford replied to Mr Baldock's question that her bill had failed to reduce child abuse, and in a complete about face, she said "The epidemic of child abuse and child violence in this country continues - sadly. My bill was never intended to solve that problem."

"Concerned citizens all over this country have always known that Sue Bradford's ill conceived and simplistic bill would not solve our child abuse problems. That is precisely why we started a second petition to urge the Government to understand and address the wider causes of family breakdown, family violence and child abuse," said Mr Baldock. "In this way we may succeed in doing something sensible and practical in the fight against these disturbing social tragedies.

SEE ATTACHED OP-ED

ENDS

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