PM not keen but won’t rule out smacking referendum
NewsHub 19 June 2017
Family First Comment: Nice quote from Winston…
“New Zealand First has called for another referendum on the controversial issue, leader Winston Peters saying it should be up to the public because they are “far more reliable and trustworthy on these matters, rather than a bunch of temporarily empowered parliamentarians”.”
Hee!
The Prime Minister isn’t ruling out holding another referendum on smacking, if that’s what it takes to form the next Government.
New Zealand First has called for another referendum on the controversial issue, leader Winston Peters saying it should be up to the public because they are “far more reliable and trustworthy on these matters, rather than a bunch of temporarily empowered parliamentarians”.
In 2009, 87 percent voted “no” to the question: “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?”
The Government ignored the result, and critics said the wording of the question assumed that smacking was “good parental correction”, which most child welfare organisations disputed.
The Bill, introduced by then-Green MP Sue Bradford, removed the defence of “reasonable force” for parents facing prosecution for assault on children. It passed into law 113-8, with the support of four of NZ First’s seven MPs. Mr Peters voted against it.
He hasn’t said whether a referendum on the matter would be a bottom line for his party’s support in any post-election coalition, but Mr English isn’t keen.
READ MORE: http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/06/pm-not-keen-on-smacking-referendum.html
