30 June 2007 - Family First - Cabinet Minister Corrects Child With a Smack
MEDIA RELEASE
30 June 2007
Cabinet Minister Corrects Child With a Smack
Labour MP David Cunliffe has been observed giving one of his children a smack for naughty behaviour at a shopping mall.
Family First was contacted and told of the actions which occurred at the Lynmall Shopping Centre this afternoon (Saturday 30 June). The child was being corrected for hitting another child.
“We support David Cunliffe for the action he took to correct naughty behaviour,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “The smack on the hand was reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances.”
“It appears that Mr Cunliffe was acting as any good parent would in the same circumstances.”
“However, under the anti-smacking law passed by Mr Cunliffe and his colleagues, his action of using force to correct a child is now illegal and a complaint made by a member of the public, or the child, to the police would have to be investigated.“
“The Police would record the event on a POL400 and forward the file to the Family Violence Co-ordinator, and if Mr Cunliffe was observed taking the same action again, the police would consider prosecuting him and forwarding the file to CYF’s for possible investigation and intervention.”
“That’s how farcical this law is,” says Mr McCoskrie. “Groups like Barnados and Plunket, and the Children’s Commissioner would find Mr Cunliffe’s actions totally unacceptable.”
But Family First congratulates him for being a responsible and loving parent.
ENDS
For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:
Bob McCoskrie JP - National Director
Tel. 09 261 2426 | Mob. 027 55 555 42
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4 comments:
rotflmho.
Good old Cunliffe eh?
While I congratulate the Cabinet Minister to his common sense approach to correcting his child's behaviour, I think he should be dragged through police and social investigations and through the courts - just like any other parent will be - because of the new anti-smacking law.
As far as I understand, this cabinet minister was one of the overwhelming majority who voted for the anti-smacking law. It would do him a bit of good to experience what Swedish parents have been experiencing under the anti-smacking law - of which I warned the New Zealand public.
Unfortunately, my warnings fell on deaf parliamentarian ears.
Ruby Harrold-Claesson
Lawyer
President of the NCHR/NKMR
www.nkmr.org
Thanks Ruby for your comments.
Someone has to go through the courts to determine what is inconsequential or not.
Why not a Cabinet Minister who voted for this new law knowing that some families will be destroyed by the Court system. They will have their children placed in CYFs care and loose all their money as they fight this. But perhaps a Cabinet Minister will be treated differently ie. not have their children put in CYFs care and perhaps Parliament will help with their court costs.
Thank you again Ruby for all the work you did on behalf of the 83% of New Zealanders who were against the repeal of Section 59. We appreciate your advise, press releases and emails of encouragement especially since you have experienced this up close in Sweden and know how it has destroyed a huge number of good caring families in Sweden.
Your experienced advise has been extremely valuable and we have appreciated your professionalism as well.
For more on Ruby's qualification to comment on this see:
http://familyintegrity.blogspot.com/2007/05/31-may-2007-family-integrity-swedish.html
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