Assurance for parents welcomed

Green Party MP Sue Bradford congratulated Prime Minister John Key on his decision this afternoon to stick to his principles on the section 59 reform, despite pressure from those who wish to relegalise assault on children.

“Steps to increase people’s comfort with and understanding of the law - while keeping the law intact - are an appropriate response to the referendum result.”

Mr Key’s three-point plan includes a joint Police/Child, Youth and Family review overseen by an independent third party, bringing forward the planned Ministry of Social Development review of the law to October, and extending Police monitoring of the law and its application.

He promised to change the law if future Police data showed the law was not working well and parents were prosecuted unnecessarily.

However, this was an unlikely scenario, Ms Bradford said.

“I expect the fifth Police review of the law - due this week - will reinforce Mr Key’s view that the law is working as intended, as all four previous Police reviews confirmed parents weren’t getting prosecuted for a light smack.”

Ms Bradford is pleased the Government is bringing forward the Ministry of Social Development’s review of the impact of the s59 law change.

The Green Party also welcomes the review of how Police and Child Youth and Family deal with people who abuse children.

“After four years of deep controversy it is time we allowed the new law to bed in. More detailed review and reporting processes can only help ensure that it functions as Parliament intended.

“I sincerely hope that despite the huge pressure on Mr Key and his MPs they will never buckle to the push to reinstitute a law which would allow, for example, the legal beating of children with implements, as some proponents of the ‘No’ vote campaign advocate.

“Keeping all of New Zealand’s babies, children and young people safe from violence in the home should be the priority of parents, Police, Government agencies - and MPs.”