PRESS RELEASE

12 Feb 2016

Less Loving Correction Equals More Abuse

The Conservative Party is horrified at the latest statistics brought to light in the Family First report "Defying Human Nature: An Analysis of New Zealand’s 2007 Anti-Smacking Law”. Alarming findings such as Police stats which show there has been a 136% increase in physical abuse, and more than 1 million notifications of abuse to CYF.

It is obvious that the anti-smacking law has had no impact whatsoever on addressing all forms of child abuse. What it has done, is labeled good parents as criminals. Good parents have had their right to lovingly correct their children as they see fit, taken away. Parents are becoming more and more disempowered, whilst children are becoming more empowered. This is not ok. There is a huge difference between loving correction and child abuse. They are at complete opposites of the spectrum.

The Conservative Party believes that the Government must recognise the child abuse problems and take action to see that answers are found. There are many community based groups out there working hard and achieving much in these areas, but could do a lot more if there was more funding available. Surely the government could be doing more to support such community, relationship based initiatives where effectiveness is being seen.

Abuse strikes at the very heart of the family unit, and a society is only as strong as its families. At present, sadly, we are seeing the continual breakdown of the family unit, along with an increase in drug and alcohol abuse. The Conservative Party supports a non-political inquiry into family breakdown and child abuse in New Zealand to obtain policy recommendations on how to halt and reverse these trends.

“The Conservative Party considers the people’s voice on this issue is far more important than their voice on changing the flag. 87% voted to change the anti-smacking law because they knew it would make no positive difference,” says Party Chairman, Laurence Day.

“The people have been proven right, again. We ask, ‘Will the Government finally agree with the people and the statistics, take a serious look at the causes of this cancer in our society, and then act?'” he concludes.

Finally, the Conservative Party calls for Government to separate child abuse from good parents wishing to use a light smack as correction, through actions such as incorporating the Burrows' amendment. The Conservative Party continues to advocate for binding referenda, as a way of ensuring New Zealanders have their say.

ENDS

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