Time For The Politicians To Listen

Hon Heather Roy, ACT Deputy Leader
Thursday, August 21 2009

ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader Heather Roy today welcomed news that 87.6 percent of the 1,622,150 New Zealanders who voted in the Anti-Smacking Referendum have exercised their right to democracy and voted ‘NO’.

“New Zealand has spoken, and now it is time for the politicians to listen,” Mrs Roy said.

“Kiwis throughout the country have spent the past two years telling politicians that they don’t want good parents criminalised for using a light smack as part of good parental correction.

“Tonight they have made their views clear once again and it is time for politicians to listen, acknowledge the message that an overwhelming majority of New Zealanders are sending and, act on it.

“Prime Minister John Key and the National Party can't ignore over 1,4 million people.  He must now send an equally clear signal that Government has no right to tell parents how to raise their children and introduce my colleague John Boscawen's Crimes (Reasonable Parental Control and Correction) Amendment Bill as soon as possible.

“To date ACT is the only Party that opposed the original legislation, and the only Party prepared to listen to Kiwis.  ACT urges the National Party to do the right thing,” Mrs Roy said.

ENDS

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