Repeal smacking provision say Greens

A Government report showing increasing abuse of children is good reason to repeal legislation permitting smacking, says Green Party MP Sue Bradford.

The report issued on Sunday said that, in the year to June 2002, 6892 children were assessed as abused or neglected by Child, Youth and Family.

This was a substantiated child abuse rate of 6.9 children for every 1000 children under 17 years of age, a slight increase from the (revised) rate of 6.7 per thousand in 2001, the Social Development Ministry report said.

"Maori children are more likely than non-Maori children to be assessed as abused and neglected. In 2002, the rate per 1000 was 10.3 for Maori and 5.9 for non-Maori."

Ms Bradford said the Government must immediately repeal the Crimes Act section that let parents physically punish their children.

"There is nothing stopping the Government repealing this provision now, apart from a lack of will," she said. "The Government absolutely has to act now in the light of this report, which shows how badly abused our children are."

The Government two months ago put on hold for at least two years a change to the law that allowed parents to smack.

Decisions on changes would follow a public education campaign on alternatives to smacking, starting next year.

The campaign was expected to run for several years.

Ms Bradford said the report showed children and young people were missing out "in all sorts of other areas".

Inequities in parental income and housing had an impact on children, she said.

"We need to urgently consider introducing a universal child benefit," she said.

"Also we need to address the continuing disproportionately high levels of unemployment in people aged between 15 and 25.

"More deliberate job creation and support has to be introduced for this age group."

While she congratulated the Government for doing the research, she said it would be meaningless if nothing were done to address the problems it revealed.

The report found New Zealanders were generally healthier and wealthier than in 1996.

But, while living standards are on the up for most New Zealanders, the report showed Maori, Pacific Islanders and under-25-year-olds are falling behind.

Thirty-two per cent of Maori families had low incomes compared with 22.6 per cent of the whole population.

Under-25-year-olds were more likely to be victims of crime, die in road smashes and be on low incomes.

Social Development Minister Steve Maharey said the Government was working on programmes aimed at improving living standards for young people.

- NZPA