By Spike Mountjoy

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• Scoop Audio: This afternoon Psychologist Nigel Latta and Prime Minister John Key announced the findings of a cross agency review of law changes relating to child discipline.

Latta said he was personally reassured the repeal of Section 59 of the Crimes Act - taking away the defence of reasonable force for the purpose of correction in child assault cases - had not made a difference to front line policing and social work.

“The issue is resolved, I’m kind of moving on”, he said.

Latta said he voted with the pro-smacking camp in a recent referendum on the issue because the “yes” camp was “dressing up opinion as science”.

Key confirmed that he personally thinks it is ok for a parent to smack their child, that it is “up to the parents”

The audio below is the first half of today’s post-cabinet press conference. To hear the second half, where John Key discusses the Government’s response to the drug ‘P’, unemployment figures, factory dairy farming, tax changes, the foreshore and seabed, Melissa Lee, and Copenhagen CLICK HERE