s 59 Archive

  • frog

    Children’s policy - by frog



    Sue Bradford has just released the Green Party’s Children’s Policy on the eve of the Every Child Counts Conference which starts tomorrow. As expected the policy signals the Greens will work to retain the amendments to s 59 of the Crimes Act.  It also has important health provisions (such as free dental care), environmental provisions [...] read more
    September 9, 2008 12:13 pm - 67 Comments
  • frog

    4 ways to smack - by frog



    John Caldwell has taken the seemingly unusual step of reading the child discipline laws in the Crimes Act before rushing to comment on the section 59 amendment petition and referendum. Thus his commentary in The Press yesterday morning [off line] is enlightening.  It seems we do not currently have an anti-smacking law but a law [...] read more
    August 27, 2008 6:46 am - 36 Comments
  • frog

    Euphemisms - by frog



    It’s funny the debate was meant to be about removing a defence against the criminal assault of children.  But opponents didn’t like that language so instead we spent a lot of time talking about “smacking”.  Now we’re being subjected to a further amendment of language away from the actual legal definition of what we are [...] read more
    August 25, 2008 10:34 am - 60 Comments