Media release
21 February 2007
Families Commission comment re forthcoming third reading of Section 59 amendment bill
The Families Commission is calling on politicians to show their leadership in reducing society’s tolerance to violence
by continuing to vote for the current amendment to Section 59 of the Crimes Act.
It is vital that this Bill is not altered in the next stages through Parliament, said the Chief Commissioner of the
Families Commission, Rajen Prasad.
“We oppose Chester Borrows’ proposed amendment because it legislates support for parents who hit their children. It does
nothing to reduce tolerance for family violence, it does not provide clear guidance for parents or juries, and it
attempts to define how much force parents can use when disciplining their children.”
“We would rather see the Bill withdrawn and the status quo remain rather than live with any changes that would further
sanction parents hitting their children,” he said.
Research evidence shows that the best and most effective parenting practices do not use physical punishment. There are
risks that smacking can escalate to abuse. The harder a child is hit, the more damaging it is for their future
wellbeing.
“We urge politicians to clearly signal that hitting children is not acceptable and encourage parents to raise their
children without any form of violence,” said Dr Prasad.
Ends