Let’s change Section 59 by adding clear definitions of what unreasonable force is

Answer
Section 59 is never used to excuse child abuse. That’s why it was formulated and placed in the Crimes Act in the first place. The idea that Section 59 is ever used this way is a spin used by Sue Bradford and other repeal lobbyists. Judges and juries are perfectly capable of discerning abuse from “reasonable force used by way of correction.” Section 59 even flexes in harmony with changing social attitudes. Section 59 is brilliant just as it is. It gives parents just the amount of authority they need to train and correct their children without giving them license to harm. If Section 59 was repealed, parents would lose their authority over their children (authority with no power to back it up with force is no authority at all). In addition we’d be left with a Section 2 definition of assault which will make every parent guilty of assault several times a day!