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Share your thoughts on the anti-smacking law on the
message board below.
Taxpayers are due to fork out $9 million to have a say on the
controversial anti-smacking law.
The campaign for the non-binding referendum started on Monday, with voting packs expected to be in voters' mailboxes soon.
The anti-smacking law made smacking children illegal two years ago. But now New Zealanders are getting a say on whether the controversial legislation should stay.
The referendum will ask: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?"
The orange man advertising character who reminded everyone to vote in the general election is back to announce the postal ballot referendum in August and remind voters to enrol.
The Kiwi Party triggered the referendum by gathering 300,000 signatures on a petition.
"The polls have been indicating that still about 80% of the country intend to vote 'no' to this referendum. In other words they don't believe that smacking a child should be a criminal offence," says Gordon Copeland, Kiwi Party President.
But canvassing Kiwi opinion will cost $9 million.
The woman who authored the legislation, Green MP Sue Bradford says it's a waste of money.
"It's a real pity that we're having to waste this money on this referendum when in fact the full government review of how the law's been in practice is coming out later this year," says Bradford.
She says the amendment "simply removed a defence of 'reasonable force' for the purpose of correction which allowed some parents to get away with assaulting their children".
"This then meant that police often didn't take prosecutions when they perceived the reasonable force defence could be used."
Anyone eligible to vote can have their say. Voting papers will arrive by mail in August. But unlike a general election, the referendum is not binding on the government
The government clearly believes this isn't an issue anymore.
"I accept that people are entitled to express their views and of course we'll observe those views. But the test for me is whether the law's working and at this stage I believe it is," says John Key, Prime Minister.
New research carried out by Otago University shows 10% of parents now think smacking is effective.
"Attitudes towards discipline are changing. Some of the older studies showed that New Zealand parents smacked their kids about once a week. And we're definitely not finding that," says Professor Anne Smith of the university.
Voters will have three weeks in August to have their say on
whether they think smacking is criminal. The referendum will be
held by postal ballot from July 31 to August 21. The last day to
enrol is July 30.
How will you be voting in the referendum? Is it okay to
smack a child? Do you think the law is understood properly? Share
your thoughts on the message board below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentNoddy samurai said on 2009-12-07 @ 17:42 NZDT: Report abusive post
87% of those who voted said NO!! to the question: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand ... John Key what part of NO!! do you not understand ... This will not help you for your next ELECTION
ictcons said on 2009-07-25 @ 00:07 NZDT: Report abusive post
So Sue Bradford thinks the cost of the referendum is a waste of money. No, Sue. A waste of money is a government that continually operates against the will of the majority. We all knew that 70-80% of the people were against then bill before it was passed. Now we have to pay to be heard. When the government starts listening to and doing the wil of the people, then money will stop being wasted! For now, send the $9M bill to Sue.
joeyblogs said on 2009-06-18 @ 23:20 NZDT: Report abusive post
9 million well spent. 'The cost of democracy'. No one likes child abuse but criminals act regardless of the law. And all of you who say theres other ways, you tell me how to control a toddler that can hardly talk that does something dangerous like run out in front of a car. They're not gonna understand you talking to them. All of our generation were smacked and are fine. These trendy leftys need to get a life!!
ronda said on 2009-06-18 @ 18:43 NZDT: Report abusive post
Get a life and quit hitting on the little ones. They are the best thing we ever do and do you go around whacking your boss every time he has a tantrum? No. So don't do it to those that can't defend themselves. Plus it really hurts. :(
Saner said on 2009-06-18 @ 16:07 NZDT: Report abusive post
And the court cases and police investigation on parents being "wrongfully" accused, is a continual expense to the tax payers and will cost us far more going forward. That is just wasting money.