End of Unique Legislation? Let the People Decide
03/08/09 23:58
Today New Zealanders have the opportunity to vote for or against the abolishment of Section 59 of the Crimes Act in a national referendum.
At the moment New Zealand citizens are receiving referendum packages in their mail boxes that will determine whether or not the controversial amendment to the Crimes Act legislation initiated by Sue Bradford of the Green Party, in 2007, will stay.
The change was made which made it illegal for parents to use force against a child for ‘correction’ and went as far making it legally possible for parents to be charged if any ‘use of force’ was observed by a parent on their children to corrective purposes.
The referendum was forced by opponents who asked the critical question of “should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?”
The ballot boxes close on the 21st of August and current Prime Minister, John Key, has said that the current legislation is working, but will go with the people if the referendum results illustrate stark opposition.
This is yet another indication of how democracy in New Zealand is very much alive and well and the country will have to wait and see to find out the consequences of their decisions.
The change was made which made it illegal for parents to use force against a child for ‘correction’ and went as far making it legally possible for parents to be charged if any ‘use of force’ was observed by a parent on their children to corrective purposes.
The referendum was forced by opponents who asked the critical question of “should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?”
The ballot boxes close on the 21st of August and current Prime Minister, John Key, has said that the current legislation is working, but will go with the people if the referendum results illustrate stark opposition.
This is yet another indication of how democracy in New Zealand is very much alive and well and the country will have to wait and see to find out the consequences of their decisions.
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