PETITION TO DEFINE LEGAL LIMITS IN CORPORAL PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN THROUGH THE CRIMES AMENDMENT (CHILD PROTECTION - EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT) BILL 2000 PROPOSED BY ALAN CORBETT
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TO THE HONOURABLE ................... ((your local NSW MP))
We, the undersigned members of your electorate, wish to draw your attention to the following:
* The common law allows parents to punish children with "reasonable force". Corporal punishment is deemed unlawful if it exceeds "reasonable force". "Reasonable force" is considered to be dependent on all relevant circumstances, but has not been further defined in terms of the type of physical force used and the harm caused to the child. We maintain that Parliament has a duty to pass laws that protect children and provide clear guidelines for parents.
* "Reasonable force", being unclear and subjectively defined, has sometimes been interpreted to include punching, kicking, hitting around the head, hitting with objects such as belts, sticks, extension cords, cricket bats etc and causing bruises, welts, abrasions, broken bones, head injuries and even the child's or infant's death. The new legislation will clarify that it is unlawful for a child to be hit around the head or with objects. Given the current state of legislation, different magistrates have shown considerable inconsistency in their ability to recognise the physical abuse of children as unreasonable under any circumstances.
* We believe the current legislation does little to prevent child physical abuse. We consider any such legislation must set clear standards in the prevention of violence against children or be considered contrary to their fundamental human rights and to their need for equal protection under the law as guaranteed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Furthermore, we personally believe it to be logically and morally indefensible to demand a parental right to do to children what is, by definition, a gross violation of human rights if done to adults and an offence legally recognised as cruelty when inflicted upon animals.
* We believe the proposed legislation will help to set a clearly defined standard for magistrates, provide educative guidelines for parents, and ensure increased protection for children.
THEREFORE we call upon you to vote in favour of the proposed legislation - An Act to amend the Crimes Act 1900 to limit the use of excessive physical force to discipline children.
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PETITION TO DEFINE LEGAL LIMITS IN CORPORAL PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN THROUGH THE CRIMES AMENDMENT (CHILD PROTECTION - EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT) BILL 2000 PROPOSED BY ALAN CORBETT