http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/PoliticalNews/Smackingpetitionhitsparliament/tabid/419/articleID/47796/cat/68/Default.aspxSmacking petition hits parliament
Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:02p.m.
The petition reaches parliament
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Opponents of the ‘anti-smacking’ law took the issue back to parliament today, determined to force a citizens’ initiated referendum.
They say the have gathered the required number of signatures on a petition for the vote to go ahead.
It took former MP Larry Baldock and 25 others to carry the boxes that were filled with over 600,000 signatures
Baldock claims one of the two petitions was the largest gathered in 20 years.
It asks if a smack as part of good parental correction should be a criminal offence in New Zealand. The other asks whether more emphasis should be placed on child abuse.
Signatures from 10 percent of eligible voters are needed to force a referendum. The signatures on the anti-anti-smacking petition will be checked randomly for legitimacy.
Baldock says there is still a feeling of concern about the law, which passed last year.
“We’ve had policemen signing this petition in uniform,” says Baldock. “They are worried in time they are going to have to come back and start arresting the people and prosecuting because at the moment they give a warning, if you continue to do it then you’re going to end up with a prosecution because the law is very clear.”
The petition organisers want the referendum to be held on Election Day this year, but that is unlikely to happen. The government decides when the referendum would be held and while Election Day is probably the most suitable and cost-effective day, Labour would not want to remind the public of its support for the controversial law.
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