This morning, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child released a report about smacking children.
They have called for Australia to abolish the longstanding right of parents to use “reasonable chastisement” in smacking a child.
Yes, that’s right – they want to make smacking illegal. Just like it is in 34 other countries – including New Zealand, Sweden, Germany and Spain.
The report compared corporal punishment to domestic violence and assault, and demanded that Australian parents use “other forms of discipline”.
And now Tony Abbott has responded to the news. He reckons that a “gentle smack” is sometimes the best thing for a kid. Appearing on Sunrise on Channel Seven this morning, Abbott said that he’d previously disciplined his daughters with smacks.
“I was probably one of those guilty parents who did chastise the children – with pretty gentle smacks, I’ve got to say,” he said. “I think that we’ve got to treat our kids well, but I don’t think we ought to say that there’s no place ever for a smack.”
He did admit that the smack should never be something that hurts a child – but that “all parents know that occasionally the best thing that we can give a kid is a smack”.
Abbott put the UN report down to another example of “political correctness taken to extremes”.
Top Comments
smacking works just like stealling money when you don't have enough to pay your rent. But if you condemn someone for making this desperate choice in order to pay the rent and not get kicked out on the street. That someone should have the same right to condemn you for hitting a child. This is what justice is about. equality. Not mastery and slavery
I was smacked and I DID turn out OK. Looking back now, I was a terror of a child who used to throw god-awful tantrums if I didn't get my own way. Well my sisters and I got smacked if we were naughty plain and simple.
I wouldn't necessarily do it when I have children, but at the same time, my sisters grew up, we didn't smoke, drink, do drugs, we weren't promiscuous, we didn't get around at teenagers hanging out at shopping centres and street corners. We were expected home at curfews or we were grounded. We were taught manners, opening doors, offering assistance when needed. We have wonderful, hard working parents who love us to the moon and back. We're all now grown women who've always worked hard, can provide for ourselves, help others, we are all successful, contributing members of society... so I don't believe smacking harmed us at all. Each to their own.
My parents taught us boundaries and consequences for overstepping them, responsibility, accountability - something that seems to be lacking these days ...