Anti-Smacking Bill

Well, yesterday was apparently D-day in terms of the Anti-Smacking Bill. It was the big parliament vote through for all the amendments. But good ol' Taito Philip Field submitted a document with 50 additional amendments.

Thus, it has been delayed till May.

So NZ parents who smack their children can continue to do so until May. They can also continue to forcibly put their child in time-out without being charged with assault.

Bet you Sue Bradford is stewing in her own juices at the moment.

The thing that really pisses me off? Our "beloved" (coughcoughhack) prime minister Helen has decided that this isn't a "conscience" vote and that all the Labour MPs must vote yes to the bill. Regardless of the fact that at least 8 of them are opposed to them.

8 MPs who could be crucial in causing the bill to fail.

8 MPs who are quite a lot annoyed about being told how to vote.

I don't see how this is not a matter of conscience. It's about what people do in the privacy of their home (or the public supermarket - whatever). Child assault is a matter of conscience. If you don't think that you are abusing your child by smacking them it is a matter of your conscience.

Is this not an indication of how badly Helen dearest wants this bill to go through in order to keep the Greens happy?

It's all bullsh*t.

Also, why they would chose to do this in the year leading up to an election is a mystery to me. Labour have consistently NOT delivered on their promises.

Take the 20 hour free kindergarten promise for example. The government promised. The kindys said "it's not possible".

Cue video footage of Helen sitting on the edge of a playground smiling awkwardly around children and making no effort to actually interact with them.

The next day the very kindergarten shown in that video comes forth to the press and says that it's actually financially impossible to achieve this.

Sucks to be Helen.

And while we're at it...let's bring back real democracy.