Social Development Minister David
Benson-Pope has introduced a supplementary order paper to
the House today that will address any concerns that Sue
Bradford's Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Bill
will not achieve its intended purpose.
The amendment
directs the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social
Development to review whether the Act is achieving its
intended purpose and to report on any additional
impacts.
"The Bill closes a loophole through which some
violent parents were acquitted in situations of clear use of
excessive violence against their children," said Mr
Benson-Pope.
"The misinformation around this Bill has led
many parents to mistakenly believe that good, caring parents
will in some way be criminalised by the Bill. This is
clearly not the case.
"This matter was raised in Cabinet
by my colleague, Clayton Cosgrove, as an added safeguard for
parents and I am pleased to support his
suggestion."
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