Source: www.youtube.com
Post-Cabinet press conference on Maori seats in the Auckland “super city” and the “smacking” referendum
Category: Referendum
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Key: I won’t ignore smacking vote
Key: I won’t ignore smacking vote
By TRACY WATKINS – The Dominion Post
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/2779737/Key-I-won-t-ignore-smacking-vote
Last updated 17:18 24/08/2009LATEST: Prime Minister John Key has unveiled a compromise option on the so-called anti-smacking law after it was overwhelmingly rejected in a referendum.
Mr Key took a series of proposals to Cabinet today following Friday’s resounding referendum victory for opponents of the 2007 child discipline law change.
Preliminary results found 87.6 per cent of those who voted ticked no to the question: ”Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?”
Mr Key said he would ask police and the Social Development Ministry to review their procedures, including the referral process between the two agencies, to identify any changes that might be required to ensure good parents were treated as Parliament intended.
An independent person would be appointed to assist in the review.
He had also asked the Social Development Ministry to bring forward its review of the law, which was due by the end of the year.
That review is looking at the effect of the law change and its effects two years after implementation.
Meanwhile, police would be asked to continue reporting on cases on a six monthly or annual basis for the next three years and include data on cases where parents or caregivers said the force used on a child was reasonable in the circumstances.
“Cabinet has agreed that if future police data indicates a worrying trend the law will be changed,” Mr Key said.
That had not been the case so far.
He said parents who lightly smack their children should not fear being treated like criminals, and that he would not ignore the referendum.
The measures outlined today were unlikely to placate those who supported the right to smack, and who wanted the law changed to explicitly allow light smacking.
The referendum was organised after Green MP Sue Bradford’s member’s bill was passed in 2007. That law change amended the Crimes Act to remove the defence of reasonable force when an adult was charged with assaulting a child.
Mr Key did not want Parliament’s time consumed relitigating the ”explosive” smacking debate and preferred putting in ”additional safeguards”.
Voter turnout on the referendum’s initial results was 54 percent, with just over 1.6 million votes cast.
The final result will be declared tomorrow.
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Cabinet Ministers Swamped With Emails
Keep your emails going into the Prime Minister and his cabinet.
Two links to help with this:
Here are the addresses to write to:
https://familyintegrity.org.nz/2009/the-message-is-clear-decriminalise-light-smacking/
Here is an idea about what to say: we totally endorse Larry Baldock’s suggestion of merely repealing two clauses of the current act, rather than pass a new Bill
https://familyintegrity.org.nz/2009/referendumsection-59-the-way-forward/
MEDIA RELEASE
24 August 2009
Cabinet Ministers Swamped With Emails
Family First NZ says that almost 800 emails have been sent in the past 24 hours to Ministers in Cabinet requesting that they decriminalise light smacking, and they continue to pour in.
“The Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers have been asked by families from all over New Zealand to vote to decriminalise light smacking in accordance with the wishes of the 88% who voted NO in the Referendum,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.
“The Referendum wasn’t about ‘recommendations’, ‘guidelines’ or ‘comfort’ – it was about a law change.”
“As the law stands, a light smack is a criminal offence subject to whether the police agree it was ‘inconsequential’ and then whether CYF agree that you’re not an abusive parent (only after an investigation that may require your children to be removed temporarily).”
Grant Illingworth QC said in a published Op-Ed that “it is a serious thing to say that someone has committed a crime, irrespective of whether the person is prosecuted. Surely we should reserve that kind of condemnation for situations that really warrant the intervention of the criminal law.”
And Jim Evans, Emeritus Professor of Law at Auckland University said “this is not clear legislation. In creating this law, Parliament abandoned its constitutional responsibility to say with clarity just which conduct is criminal. The section results from a political fudge.”
Family First continues to plead with Cabinet to decriminalize light smacking and then to establish a Commission of Enquiry to target the real causes of child abuse.ENDS
For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:
Bob McCoskrie – National Director
Mob. 027 55 555 42
Sign up now to received FREE email updates of issues affecting families – be informed! http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/index.cfm/Sign_Up -
Family Integrity #475 — email today please: addresses
Family Integrity #475 — email today please: addresses
Dear Everyone,
Decriminalise Light Smacking
We need to act today, Monday, for John Key is meeting today with Cabinet to wring decisions out of them to do nothing about the referendum results.
Here are the addresses to write to:
https://familyintegrity.org.nz/2009/the-message-is-clear-decriminalise-light-smacking/
Here is an idea about what to say: we totally endorse Larry Baldock’s suggestion of merely repealing two clauses of the current act, rather than pass a new Bill
https://familyintegrity.org.nz/2009/referendumsection-59-the-way-forward/
(If the links above don’t work by clicking on them, please copy and paste into your browser.)
Regards,
Craig & Barbara Smith
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Referendum: UPDATE : 400 emails sent already – and counting!!!
UPDATE :
400 emails sent already – and counting!!!Voters put heat on MPs
The Dominion Post today
MPs are being bombarded with emails from angry voters as Prime Minister John Key resists a law change in the wake of an overwhelming vote in the smacking referendum…..
WOULD YOU CONSIDER TAKING 2 MINUTES TO SEND AN IMPORTANT EMAIL?The Message is Clear…
Decriminalise Light SmackingThis morning, and in response to the whopping 88% who voted NO in the Referendum, John Key will be going to Cabinet to recommend ‘increased safeguards’, guidelines and ‘a level of comfort’ for parents under the anti-smacking law. But the Referendum wasn’t about ‘recommendations’, ‘guidelines’ or ‘comfort’ – it was about a law change .As the law stands, a light smack is a criminal offence subject to whether the police agree it was ‘inconsequential’ and then whether CYF agree that you’re not an abusive parent (only after an investigation that may require your children to be removed temporarily). We’ve documented many cases where this interpretation would be completely different to what you and I would think ( see here).
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO EMAIL THE MEMBERS OF CABINET
Almost all of these Ministers were in Opposition when the law was passed and actively lobbyed against the law change until they were ‘whipped’ to support the compromise – some even helped collect signatures and promoted the need for a Referendum! It’s not about John Key’s view – it’s about Cabinet listening to the almost 90% who voted NO in the Referendum
Here’s the emails…
john.key@parliament.govt.nz ; bill.english@parliament.govt.nz ; gerry.brownlee@parliament.govt.nz ; simon.power@parliament.govt.nz ; tony.ryall@parliament.govt.nz ; nick.smith@parliament.govt.nz ; judith.collins@parliament.govt.nz ; anne.tolley@parliament.govt.nz ; christopher.finlayson@parliament.govt.nz ; david.carter@parliament.govt.nz ; murray.mccully@parliament.govt.nz ; tim.groser@parliament.govt.nz ; wayne.mapp@parliament.govt.nz ; steven.joyce@parliament.govt.nz ; georgina.teheuheu@parliament.govt.nz ; paula.bennett@parliament.govt.nz ; phil.heatley@parliament.govt.nz ; pansy.wong@parliament.govt.nz ; jonathan.coleman@parliament.govt.nz ; kate.wilkinson@parliament.govt.nz ; mail@hef.org.nz; admin@familyfirst.org.nz ;
(we’ve added our email address simply so we can monitor how much email traffic each Cabinet Minister is receiving)
Step 1 : Simply highlight all emails, copy and paste in a new email. Step 2 : Write a simply message which starts with something like
“Decriminalise Light Smacking – Please hear the voice of the 88% who voted against the anti-smacking law….” And then, if you want, add any additional comments – but at all times, PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL!(We at Family Integrity recommned Larry Baldock’s plan here:
https://familyintegrity.org.nz/2009/referendumsection-59-the-way-forward/)
Step 3: Press SEND!
Thank you. Your voice really does count.
Kind regards
Bob McCoskrie
National Director
PS Here’s an interesting quote we foundExcerpts from John Key’s speech on 17 April 2007
“Proponents of the bill say that doesn’t matter; that in reality no one is ever going to be prosecuted for lightly smacking their child. But if the reality is that no one is ever going to be prosecuted for lightly smacking their child, then don’t make it illegal. Don’t make it a crime. It’s poor law-making to write a very strict law and then trust the police and the courts not to enforce it strongly . The law shouldn’t depend on which police officer or which judge or which jury you happen to get on the day.”“As I said before, the way you send a message is to make the law clear and precise and then to police it strongly and vigilantly. My colleague, Whanganui MP Chester Borrows, has put forward an amendment to Sue Bradford’s Bill that would do this. In my view, this is the correct response, and the one Parliament should adopt.”
(Family Integrity recommends Larry Baldock’s suggestion. Please take a moment to read this link:
https://familyintegrity.org.nz/2009/referendumsection-59-the-way-forward/)
The full text of John Key’s speech is on the National Party web site:
http://www.national.org.nz/files/_0_Key_Speech_17-04-07.pdf -
The anti-smacking law: Only a law change is morally acceptable
From beretta-onlineNZ Prime Minister John Key is saying that he takes the referendum outcome seriously, and that he wants to reassure parents that they will not be investigated or prosecuted just for smacking a child. See the story here.
Police and Child Youth and Family officials will be warned to not prosecute parents for lightly smacking their children.
Prime Minister John Key told the Sunday Star-Times in Sydney yesterday he was planning to introduce “increased safeguards” to prevent parents who gave their children “minor” or “inconsequential” smacks from being either investigated or prosecuted.
The PM claims that he actually supports the view of those who voted no.
Mr Key also told TVNZ’s Q&A programme this morning that he agreed with the result. “I agree and support their view there, I think it would be totally inappropriate for a New Zealand parent to be prosecuted for lightly smacking a child.
Here’s the problem: Their (our) view is that a smack as part of good aprental correction should not be a criminal offence. Unless the law is changed, it will continue to be a criminal offence. To say that it will remain a criminal offence, but police will be advised not to prosecute these criminals, is not to share our view at all.
Criminals should be prosecuted. If a reasonable smack (not a punch, a whipping, a “good hiding,” etc) as part of normal correction should never be prosecuted, then it should not be a crime in law, which it currently is.
Stop being half hearted, Mr Key. If you share our view, as you claim to, that a smack should not be a crime, then seek a law change so that a smack is not a crime. It’s not complicated. We’re waiting.
Write to John Key and the Cabinet
https://familyintegrity.org.nz/2009/the-message-is-clear-decriminalise-light-smacking/
and
http://familyintegrity.org.nz/2009/referendumsection-59-the-way-forward/
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The Message is Clear…Decriminalise Light Smacking
The Message is Clear…
Decriminalise
Light Smacking
WOULD YOU CONSIDER TAKING 2 MINUTES TO SEND AN IMPORTANT EMAIL?
Tomorrow morning, and in response to the whopping 88% who voted NO in the Referendum, John Key will be going to Cabinet to recommend ‘increased safeguards’, guidelines and ‘a level of comfort’ for parents under the anti-smacking law. But the Referendum wasn’t about ‘recommendations’, ‘guidelines’ or ‘comfort’ – it was about a law change .As the law stands, a light smack is a criminal offence subject to whether the police agree it was ‘inconsequential’ and then whether CYF agree that you’re not an abusive parent (only after an investigation that may require your children to be removed temporarily). We’ve documented many cases where this interpretation would be completely different to what you and I would think ( see here).
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO EMAIL THE MEMBERS OF CABINET
Almost all of these Ministers were in Opposition when the law was passed and actively lobbyed against the law change until they were ‘whipped’ to support the compromise – some even helped collect signatures and promoted the need for a Referendum! It’s not about John Key’s view – it’s about Cabinet listening to the almost 90% who voted NO in the Referendum
Here’s the emails…
john.key@parliament.govt.nz ; bill.english@parliament.govt.nz ; gerry.brownlee@parliament.govt.nz ; simon.power@parliament.govt.nz ; tony.ryall@parliament.govt.nz ; nick.smith@parliament.govt.nz ; judith.collins@parliament.govt.nz ; anne.tolley@parliament.govt.nz ; christopher.finlayson@parliament.govt.nz ; david.carter@parliament.govt.nz ; murray.mccully@parliament.govt.nz ; tim.groser@parliament.govt.nz ; wayne.mapp@parliament.govt.nz ; steven.joyce@parliament.govt.nz ; georgina.teheuheu@parliament.govt.nz ; paula.bennett@parliament.govt.nz ; phil.heatley@parliament.govt.nz ; pansy.wong@parliament.govt.nz ; jonathan.coleman@parliament.govt.nz ; kate.wilkinson@parliament.govt.nz ; mail@hef.org.nz; admin@familyfirst.org.nz
(we’ve added our email address simply so we can monitor how much email traffic each Cabinet Minister is receiving)Step 1 : Simply highlight all emails, copy and paste in a new email. Step 2 : Write a simply message which starts with something like
“Decriminalise Light Smacking – Please hear the voice of the 88% who voted against the anti-smacking law….” And then, if you want, add any additional comments – but at all times, PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL!Use this as a guide:
(Write to John Key now: https://familyintegrity.org.nz/2009/family-integrity-473-write/_)
Step 3: Press SEND!
Thank you. Your voice really does count.
Kind regardsBob McCoskrie
National Director -
Family Integrity #473 — Write
Dear all,
I just sent a link out to this, but I’m sending it again (see below or click here). This really is good.
Here’s what we think needs to happen: until this issue is dead and buried, we need to continue to lobby and stir up the MPs, especially John Key and the leader of the ACT Party, who are part of this Government and therefore have some leverage. Rather than go for a new bill, just repeal bits of the current one, as Larry Baldock suggests below. This is good.
Just another few letters, emails and faxes. Not a big deal. Bob McCoskrie of Family First has been at it non stop for quite a while now. Let’s all join in and really put the pressure on, just a little effort on the part of each of us and the overall effect is very great.
The following will help with locating addresses.
Email the PM : j.key@ministers.govt.nz
Face Book him: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/John-Key/12635800428?ref=ts
Email your local MP : http://www.betterdemocracy.co.nz/email_mps.phpRegards,
Craig & Barbara Smith
Family Integrity
https://familyintegrity.org.nz/2009/referendumsection-59-the-way-forward/
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The opponents of the anti-smacking law outnumber the supporters of ANY New Zealand government
I (Beretta Blog) spotted this over at Kiwiblog today:
- 1,420,959 – Voted no to treating correctional smacking as a criminal offence
- 1,053,398 – 2008 Voted for National when they won the election
- 935,319 – 2005 Voted for Labour when they won the election
- 838,219 – 2002 Voted for Labour
- 800,199 – 1999 Voted for Labour
- 701,315 – 1996 Voted for National
This certainly puts the lie to the claim that the referendum is irrlevant or that it was ignored because of an alleged bias in its presentation. The reality is, just those who voted NO outnumber the supporters of any political party that has won an election in this country. Then add the 200,000 or so who voted in the minority, and you’ve got one heck of a popular and representative referendum!
Let’s now sit, watch, and see what our Prime Minister is made of.
