Anti-smacking bill will be passed with an amendment...
May 3rd 2007 02:27
The New Zealand government has put forward a compromise amendment that would allow the anti-smacking bill to be passed in a few weeks
The amendment allows Police not to proceed where there is evidence of "inconsequential" parental smacking of their children.
The previous legislation allowed for ' reasonable force', but the new bill says," To avoid doubt, it is affirmed the Police have the discretion not to prosecute complaints against a parent of a child or a person in the place of a parent of a child in relation to an offence invoving the use of force against a child, where the offence is considered to be so inconsequential that there is no public interest in proceding with a procecution." This will allow for light smacking but not the use of a strap, cane or any other article. Police want the term 'inconsequential' spelt out by the courts; this is usually done by the setting of a precedent in law.
The Police Association president,Greg O'Connor, said the amendment would be a relief for frontline officers, and should provide reassurance for parents. "Under current(family violence)policy, where there is evidence of an offence, police have np discretion. They are told they must arrest."
The definition of 'inconsequential' would need to be determined by the courts, but it could mean something that did not leave a mark.
The National Party Opposition will support the amendment to the bill. The proponent of the bill, Sue Bradford of the Greens, will accept the amendment.
This will be the first time since WW2 that an Opposition party has supported a Government amendment to a bill. History is in the making here in NZ.
Earlier today mainstream Christian churches protested in favour of the bill while the fundamental Christian Destiny sect opposed it. The protests had no effect on the amendment which had already been accepted by the politicians.
No doubt other countries who are intending to debate this matter in their own societies would have found the New Zealand experience very interesting.I don't believe good parents have lost the right to physically discipline their children for their own good, but have been reminded that their actions will have to be done within the bounds of the law; it should be remembered it is illegal to assault adults, and that actual assaults against children will not be tolerated in New Zealand society.
Compromise is the art of good politics, and workable law in many cases.
The amendment allows Police not to proceed where there is evidence of "inconsequential" parental smacking of their children.
The previous legislation allowed for ' reasonable force', but the new bill says," To avoid doubt, it is affirmed the Police have the discretion not to prosecute complaints against a parent of a child or a person in the place of a parent of a child in relation to an offence invoving the use of force against a child, where the offence is considered to be so inconsequential that there is no public interest in proceding with a procecution." This will allow for light smacking but not the use of a strap, cane or any other article. Police want the term 'inconsequential' spelt out by the courts; this is usually done by the setting of a precedent in law.
The Police Association president,Greg O'Connor, said the amendment would be a relief for frontline officers, and should provide reassurance for parents. "Under current(family violence)policy, where there is evidence of an offence, police have np discretion. They are told they must arrest."
The definition of 'inconsequential' would need to be determined by the courts, but it could mean something that did not leave a mark.
The National Party Opposition will support the amendment to the bill. The proponent of the bill, Sue Bradford of the Greens, will accept the amendment.
This will be the first time since WW2 that an Opposition party has supported a Government amendment to a bill. History is in the making here in NZ.
Earlier today mainstream Christian churches protested in favour of the bill while the fundamental Christian Destiny sect opposed it. The protests had no effect on the amendment which had already been accepted by the politicians.
No doubt other countries who are intending to debate this matter in their own societies would have found the New Zealand experience very interesting.I don't believe good parents have lost the right to physically discipline their children for their own good, but have been reminded that their actions will have to be done within the bounds of the law; it should be remembered it is illegal to assault adults, and that actual assaults against children will not be tolerated in New Zealand society.
Compromise is the art of good politics, and workable law in many cases.
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