Gordon Copeland Press Release
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, 26th August 2008
Government running scared on Referendum
Independent MP Gordon Copeland today said that the Government is running scared of the successful petition on the
criminalisation of good kiwi parents for smacking their children.
In Parliament Mr Copeland attempted to move a motion congratulating Larry Baldock, Leader of the Kiwi Party, and his
team on collecting over 390,000 signatures to force a referendum on the question “Should a smack, as part of good
parental correction, be a criminal offence in New Zealand?” However Deputy Prime Minister, Michael Cullen, immediately
objected to kill the motion.
“It is now crystal clear that the Government is hacked off by the success of Sheryl Savill’s petition,” said Mr
Copeland.
“Obviously they had banked on kiwis falling for their anti-smacking nonsense and are now embarrassed to discover how
deeply parents resent their meddling.”
“But the people are not so easily fooled and the chickens are now coming home to roost.”
“If the Government continues to insist on shelving the petition until a postal ballot in 2009, they will further
alienate many of those in their traditional support base.”
“It is time to return to representative democracy. It is time to listen to the voice of the people.”
ENDS