Anti-Smacking Amendment Bill

Just days after the overwhelming “No” vote was recorded in the anti-smacking referendum, my “Crimes (Reasonable Parental Control and Correction) Amendment Bill” was pulled from the ballot box in Parliament.

This Bill, if enacted, would give effect to the wishes of the 87.4 % of New Zealanders who voted “No” in the referendum.

Within hours, John Key had announced that the National Party would not be supporting my Bill and Labour have also stated that they will not support it. And we all know where the Greens stand on the matter!

The Bill will not come up for it’s first reading before 14 October, and therefore I am planning a series of Public Meetings around the country during the Parliamentary recess, from 25 September to 12 October.

The first meeting was held on Monday 7 September in Mt. Roskill, with speakers Jim Evans, Emeritus Professor of Law, Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First and Larry Baldock, Leader of the Kiwi Party and referendum organiser.