Anti-Smacking
The Family Party strongly opposed the repeal of s59 Crimes Act, which afforded decent, loving, law-abiding parents protection from criminal liability if they applied reasonable corrective discipline with their own children. The Labour-led Government removed that right. Today, parents are at risk of unwarranted state intervention because of this dangerous law change. It is an urgent priority of the Family Party to fix it.
New Zealand’s traditional family values are being undermined by a Labour-led Government that does not respect the traditional Christian values our nation was founded upon.
The vast majority of Kiwi parents are decent, loving, law abiding people who want the very best for their children. Any parent knows that raising and nurturing a child is an incredible privilege and responsibility that brings with it, many challenges along the way. Nevertheless, the responsibility for that nurturing, care, and at times - correction, is foremost the responsibility of parents – not the state.
However, the Labour-led Government has taken it upon itself to invade New Zealand homes to dictate the terms by which parents raise their children today and in the future. Through the 'anti smacking bill', the Government removed the age-old parental right to responsibly correct their own children in appropriate circumstances. The outcome of this bill effectively criminalises thousands of decent, loving parents who from time to time apply corrective discipline to their own children in a responsible manner. In other words, today, if you as a parent smack your child to correct errant behaviour, you are vulnerable to arrest, prosecution and state intervention.
Politicians and advocates of the bill claimed it will address the alarming rates of child abuse and violence against children in our communities. Certainly, the Government and all New Zealanders should be equally concerned at the unacceptable levels of abuse and violence towards children in our communities.
But the root issues of child abuse and violence towards children are more closely associated to family breakdown, poor parenting skills, poverty and alcohol/drug abuse than anything else. (Hence The Family Party Family Policy to strengthen families.) So although the bill might have appeared to be well intentioned, this law does not address the root issues of child abuse or violence against children. What it does do is place New Zealand families at significant risk of unwarranted state intervention.
Despite overwhelming public opposition in the form of polls, submissions and large street protests, the Labour-led Government forced the anti-smacking bill through.
The Family Party will seek to reinstate Section 59 of the Crimes Act, which afforded legal protection for parents who us REASONABLE force by way of corrective discipine towards their children, in appropriate circumstances.
The Family Party is also supporting the petition to repeal the bill.
Further background information on this topic can be found by clicking on the following links:
The Gamble
Around Town
Missing
