Smacking petition may go to referendum
3:47PM Friday February 29, 2008
Two petitions with a total of more than 600,000 signatures opposing the anti-smacking law have arrived at Parliament.
At first glance, both appear to have the signatures of 10 per cent of voters, making it likely each will lead to a Citizens Initiated Referendum.
These would probably be held at the time of this year's general election.
Backers want the smacking of children to be legalised again, and for the Government to give urgent priority to addressing child abuse and family violence. Petition organiser, Larry Baldock of the Kiwi Party, says it is regrettable they had to go this far.
He says Sue Bradford knows that her anti-smacking bill never had the support of ordinary people.
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