New Zealand Government Set to Revisit Anti-Smacking Legislation

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has announced today that he will take a series of proposals to the Cabinet on the anti-smacking law in the wake of the outcome of the public initiated referendum just announced.

The legislation which was passed by parliament last year making it a criminal offense for parents to use physical punishment to discipline their own children has been the focus of bitter debate throughout the country since. The majority of people felt their rights as responsible parents are being compromised.

Key said from Sydney last night, "I take seriously the message they (the people) are sending to the Government that they don't want to see good parents criminalised for lightly smacking a child."

The question asked in the referendum of all eligible voters was, "Should a smack as part of good parental control be a criminal offense in New Zealand".

The legislation's original sponsor, Green MP Sue Bradford, claims the referendum question was so flawed it was meaningless. It appears though that 87.6% of the respondents would disagree.

The poll campaigner and Kiwi Party leader, Larry Baldock, reflected on how strongly Kiwi's felt about this issue and that it sent a very clear message to the Government. "They want the authority back in the home," he said. Baldock went on to say that the Government should bypass the select committee process and move directly to a vote in parliament. References within the current Crimes Act that prevented parents from using force "for the purpose of correction" should be deleted from the Act, he said. "Every parent has been disempowered. They've got children coming home saying 'You can't touch us any longer' - and for parents this is just not on. Baldock went on saying that he denied that the referendum question was confusing. High profile broadcaster Simon Barnett agreed, "New Zealand people are not stupid," he said, "no matter how you look at it, everyone knew what the question said."

The debate will clearly continue during coming months into what many consider to be an invasion of their privacy and the proliferation of a 'big brother' mentality within the family environment. The reality clearly remains that no responsible parent would seriously physically abuse their small children. If this legislation was intended to prevent serious physical child abuse by irresponsible parents it is obviously destined to failure. There will always be those in the community who will pay no heed to the law - be it child abuse, drunk driving, theft or any other offence.

It is more a matter of social and family standards that will determine the rearing of happy contented children. There are better ways to achieve this than physically abusing a child, but the freedom for parents to raise their children in a compassionate and loving environment without the need to be controlled by the State telling them how to do it should be preserved.

There are two additional articles on child behavior at EzineArticles.com they are "Coping With Toddlers Tantrums" and "Stay One Jump Ahead Of Toddlers Tantrums".