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Prime Minister John Key has made "a huge mistake" by refusing to change the law that bans smacking and National will suffer for it at the next election, the Act Party says.
"He is making exactly the same mistake as Helen Clark made - he is putting himself above the overwhelming wish of the majority of New Zealanders," MP John Boscawen says.
"I think he's making a very stupid mistake".
Key on Monday said he was going to ensure parents were not prosecuted for an inconsequential smack but he wasn't going to change the law in response to the referendum result.
Voters faced the question: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction by a criminal offence in New Zealand?"
About 1.6 million ticked the boxes and nearly 88% said "no" .
Key said changes were likely to the way welfare officers handled complaints about light smacking and police would be asked to review their procedures to make sure good parents weren't treated like criminals.
"I am not going to allow that to happen to them and if the law shows, through its application, that New Zealand parents are criminalised or their children are taken off them in some bizarre case for what could only be described as minor or inconsequential smacking, then the law has to be changed," he said.
But the facts showed people were not being prosecuted and he wanted to find ways to assure parents that was not going to start happening.
Boscawen said the referendum result was a clear, emphatic vote for the law to be changed.
"I think he's taking a very grave risk in ignoring such a massive mandate for a change to the law," he said.
"I think he's being very foolish, his response is totally inadequate and he's making a huge mistake."
Boscawen said National's poll ratings would drop and the impact would carry through to the next election.
Family First, one of the referendum's main promoters, said MPs and ministers were receiving floods of e-mails demanding a law change.
"The referendum wasn't about recommendations, guidelines or comfort - it was about a law change," said Family First director Bob McCoskrie.
The Green Party congratulated Key, saying he had resisted pressure from those who wanted to "re-legalise assault on children".
MP Sue Bradford, who drafted the 2007 law change, said Key's response was appropriate.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentObey Democracy said on 2009-08-28 @ 16:17 NZDT: Report abusive post
Time to exercise some democracy and tear this illegitimate Law Down. Spread the word gather at parliament on 09/09/09 at 9am. It is time to make a stand for democracy that these creeps can't defy. It will be an asset to New Zealand for generations to come. Never again should any Political party be able to show such contempt and corruptibility to obey tiny minorities, UN dictates or whatever is operating Key. 09/09/09@9am/9pm Parliament/MPS Office or CYFS Carry signs saying "OBEY"
Nomanor said on 2009-08-27 @ 14:53 NZDT: Report abusive post
1 Leading: the wording of the referendum was bias. Which I believe led people to vote against the bill. 2 Abuse: parents who actually beat their children before the bill were able to get off the assault charges on reason of "Discipline". Misinterpretation makes parents believe that actual disciplinary measures will put them in prison. 3 Resolution: Key refuses to repeal the bill and give child abusers a GOJF card and protects against innocent people getting in trouble. Key has my vote.
samuelpike10 said on 2009-08-26 @ 22:44 NZDT: Report abusive post
What type country has Aotearoa become? We have elected members to parliament who do as they will and not as the people ask. I FEEL THAT WE SHOULD BILL THE COST OF THE REFERENDUM TO THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. If they acted appropriately in the first place we would not be in this situation. We have lost our position as a best practice leader.
mcarky said on 2009-08-26 @ 21:13 NZDT: Report abusive post
Paul Henry challenges the PM on folic acid in bread and in about a week the legislation is dropped. 88% Kiwis voice there disapproval for Sue Bradfords smacking bill, but yet it remains. I would really love to hear Paul Henry challenge the PM on this one. Why the about face? Whats the agenda?
klemon said on 2009-08-26 @ 20:06 NZDT: Report abusive post
So where do we turn? Labour stank, National won't listen, all the other parties are nuts. There is pretty much no one left to vote for. I think I've just lost faith in the only country I've ever been in.