Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Media release - Justice and Electoral Committee

20 November 2006

Media release - Justice and Electoral Committee

The Justice and Electoral Committee is supporting a law change designed to remove the statutory defence for parents who use force against their children for the purpose of correction, but with some amendments to clarify that reasonable force can be used when a parent is protecting a child from harm.

The committee's recommendations are contained in its report to the House on the Crimes (Abolition of Force as a Justification for Child Discipline) Amendment Bill. The committee recommends, by majority, that section 59 of the Crimes Act 1961 be replaced by a new section that will remove the defence of using "reasonable force" against a child for the purpose of correction. The committee members all agree that the existing defence should not be used to protect parents who abuse their children.

The New Zealand National party members' concerns are set out in a minority view in the committee's report on the bill.

Submitters told the committee about their concern that parents could be prosecuted for using physical correction. "We were advised that the rate of prosecution of parents for the use of force against their children depends on police practice, as it does for other assaults," committee chairperson Lynne Pillay says. "There are safeguards in the criminal justice system that will minimise the likelihood of prosecution for minor acts of physical punishment and options available other than formal prosecution, such as warnings and cautions. We expect prosecutors not to bring trifling matters before the Court."

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

"We are also aware that there is a level of concern that parents could be prosecuted for actions such as pulling a child's hand away from a hot stove element. Our recommended new section 59 clarifies that reasonable force may be used for purposes such as protecting a child from harm or providing normal daily care (such as dental care or restraining with a car seat belt)," Ms Pillay says.

The committee's report can be viewed at http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/SC/Reports or purchased from Bennetts Government Bookshops.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.