6. RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Will her Government support the passing of Bradford’s Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Bill, given that 83 percent of New Zealanders have consistently opposed it?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) Link to this
The Government supports the bill as amended. I am not aware of any polling on the amended bill.
Now that John Key is supporting Sue Bradford’s anti-smacking bill, why will she not allow her MPs a free vote on the bill and suggest John Key does the same—or is she concerned that the majority of MPs in our Parliament are against Sue Bradford’s bill, as indeed is the country?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
It is up to individual parliamentary parties in the House to determine how they deal with these issues. From the Government’s point of view, we consider it a matter of policy to push for the very safest environment we can have for children in homes throughout the country. I draw the member’s attention to the information published by the United Nations children’s agency, Unicef, which reported that among developed countries New Zealand ranked 24th out of 24 as being the least safe for children in respect of the rates of death from accident and injury.
Sue BradfordDoes the Prime Minister believe that this bill demonstrates that when political parties work together it is possible to produce outcomes with enduring political value, and does she agree that New Zealand needs more of that, not less, particularly on issues such as climate change, poverty, and sustainability?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I agree with the general sentiment, but, of course, all parties are aware of areas where there are quite fundamental differences between them. That is why we have different parties—because we express different points of view, have different philosophies, and represent different constituencies. But I do think that in the case of the bill on section 59, the overwhelming majority of our Parliament has come together, not only to send a very strong message about not wanting the violence that causes death and injury in our homes but also to send a strong message of support to good, decent parents, who should not be marched off to court for matters that are so inconsequential it would not be in the public interest to have them there.
If indeed it is the case that the majority of Parliament has come together on this bill, why will the Prime Minister not allow a free vote; and what does it say about our parliamentary democracy, and indeed the accountability of MPs, that she and John Key are dictating how MPs can vote on this bill, when it is so controversial?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I repeat, for the member’s benefit, that it is up to each party in Parliament to determine how it deals with this issue. In this respect I can speak only for my own party, but my own party has determined that this is a matter on which the Government should speak as a whole because of the importance of trying to lower the appalling rate of death and injury of children in homes in our country.
Does the Prime Minister accept that if she and John Key did not whip their MPs to vote for Sue Bradford’s anti-smacking bill, the bill would then fail; and, if she does not accept that, why will she not allow a free vote and test the will of this Parliament?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I do not believe for a moment that what the member says is true. I can only repeat that in respect of how parties determine a position on these matters and whether it will be a party vote or an individual vote, that is for individual parties in the House to determine. I have made it clear why the Government has taken a position. The Government has taken a position because of its great concern about being bottom in the developed world in relation to the rate of death and injury of children in our homes. We are absolutely delighted that Parliament has been almost unanimous in taking a stand on these issues. We believe that that will be good for children and families of our country.