Dunne Peter: Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Dunne Peter: Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:638;Page:8851] 
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
: 
 I want to speak to the amendment that has been moved in my name which has been the subject of a lot of discussion over recent days and has culminated in the events of the last 24 hours. I want to freely acknowledge the contribution of a number of people in bringing that forward. The previous speaker Bill English paid tribute to the role of the leader of the National Party. I concur with that tribute. I equally acknowledge the role of the Prime Minister. I thought today that when the two stood side by side in the Legislative Council Chamber—and my colleague Mr Goff as someone who has been here for pretty much an equivalent length of time may agree with me—I cannot ever recall seeing a Prime Minister and a Leader of the Opposition stand side by side to make a policy announcement of that type. I think that was extraordinarily significant and a good day for Parliament. I also acknowledge the mover of the bill Sue Bradford. She has been very keen to get a solution to the issues that were causing controversy and her flexibility over the last few days has been of some value. 
When this bill came before the House I voted against it in its original conception for pretty much the reasons the previous speaker described. It was a blanket repeal of section 59: no ifs no buts—all gone. Last year—and Sue Bradford will recall this—we held a public meeting in my electorate where I challenged her to consider the amendments being promoted by the Victoria University law school many of which have now been incorporated into clause 4. It was on that basis that I myself decided to support the bill. 
But there has always been a concern which I think has been hyped up unnecessarily by some and absolutely legitimately and honestly felt by many others that good parents would be placed at risk that good parents would have the police banging down the door and that good parents who should have nothing to fear would be criminalised by this bill. The Justice and Electoral Committee’s report makes it clear the mover of the bill has made it clear and many of the supporters of the bill have made it clear that that was never the intention. The situation that exists at the moment in terms of legal protections and the police not banging down the door would pretty much continue. But for the avoidance of doubt it became necessary to look at a way through and that is where the events of the last week have been so extraordinary and have culminated in this decision today. 
As a result of this amendment and the support it is likely to receive from a large sector of this Parliament parents in New Zealand will know two things from this bill. Firstly the good parents of this country—the overwhelming majority—will have nothing to fear. They will be able to bring their children up in the way that they see is best. Secondly the bill’s other provisions relating to the circumstances in which force can be used will actually provide a protection for those parents in terms of their activity. We will not see the sort of situation tolerated where a horse crop or some other implement can be used to assault children and where children can live in mortal fear of their own lives. But equally we will not see a situation where parents who go about the good and normal activity of parenting will be compromised or convicted of any criminal offence. So that is the extraordinary compromise that has been reached. 
Some may regret the fact that it has taken us 18 months to get to this point. Some may say that that is part of the democratic process and I think there is truth in that—New Zealanders have engaged in the debate. Parliament albeit slowly has responded. But I am confident that with the measure of support now being expressed a very clear message can be sent to New Zealand parents about our support as a Parliament for them in that critical role but our intolerance as a nation of unwarranted unnecessary violence against children. I believe that that is the balance the member promoting the bill always sought to achieve. The fact that we stand now on the threshold of giving that some credibility and permanence in law and giving parents some confidence and not some risks I believe is a very positive step forward. 
I simply conclude by expressing my gratitude for the support that this amendment is likely to receive by acknowledging freely the contribution of those who have made it possible. This has been Parliament working together across party lines to achieve a successful outcome.