Boscawen John: General Debate 
Boscawen John: General Debate 
[Volume:656;Page:5461] 
JOHN BOSCAWEN (ACT) 
: 
 New Zealanders are very lucky people. We live in a democracy. Last year we had a peaceful transition of power from a Labour-led Government to a National-led Government. That may seem unremarkable but there are far too many countries around the world where that would not have happened. 
Democracy is fundamental to our society. Democracy is precious and we must protect it but we should never take it for granted. Less than 2 years ago Labour attacked the very foundations of democracy with the Electoral Finance Act. In a desperate effort to get re-elected Labour sought to pass a law that severely restricted the rights of New Zealanders to criticise it. 
Hon Annette King 
: We sought to stop the rort. 
JOHN BOSCAWEN 
: I led a campaign against the Electoral Finance Act and I am sure one of the reasons as Annette King is well aware that she sits on that side of the House is the law she promoted and passed. New Zealanders did not accept it. 
I say to Mr Williamson that the boot is on the other foot today. The previous Parliament also passed a law to amend section 59 of the Crimes Act. The law denies parents the right to raise children in the way they wish. One of the very basic protections we have in our society is the right to challenge Parliament and to bring an issue to the attention of politicians. That is a right contained in the Citizens Initiated Referenda Act. 
Three-hundred thousand citizens went out and requisitioned a referendum. What has the National Government and in particular the Prime Minister done about it? They have derided and criticised those people and their referendum has been criticised as confusing. I found it very interesting to listen to Mr Key on  
Breakfast 
 on Monday. He said he accepts the law and that it technically states that if a parent smacks a child for the purpose of correction then it is against the law. I say to Mr Key that it is not technical; that is what the law states. It is against the law for a parent to smack a child for the purpose of correction. 
A referendum is going on and 3 million voting papers for the referendum have been posted out. Members opposite and all New Zealanders should participate and vote in the referendum. Democracy is precious and we should never take it for granted. 
I found it very interesting to see that Colmar Brunton had conducted a poll on the referendum and 70 percent of New Zealanders said they will vote. I congratulate those people and I tell others to vote and participate in the referendum. They should express a view because they never know when they may lose that right. I find it very interesting that 83 percent of people who responded to the Colmar Brunton poll said they do not believe a smack for the purpose of correction should be against the law or illegal. 
We have a Prime Minister who has already told the people of New Zealand he will not listen to them. He is not prepared to change the law. He says the law is working and that the police are not prosecuting. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Is he right? 
JOHN BOSCAWEN 
: We have Child Youth and Family going into people’s homes. I highlighted a case this afternoon in which a child laid a false complaint against her mother. She was taken away from her mother overnight while the complaint was investigated. The complaint was totally false and I ask Mr Hughes how he thinks the mother felt. 
The law is not working and there is no certainty. As Mr Paul Henry on Television One said to Mr Key the police may not be prosecuting— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Has the member ever been with the family of a murdered kid? 
JOHN BOSCAWEN 
: I can understand the interjections from the Labour members. I pointed out that the very reason they are sitting on that side of the House is in part I believe the Electoral Finance Act. New Zealanders National members and the Prime Minister should not make the same mistake Labour made when it passed the Electoral Finance Act. 
Eighty-three percent of New Zealanders believe that the law on smacking is wrong. They want the law changed and apparently 91 percent of National Party supporters want it changed. Next time those people are asked to participate in a poll they should say they will vote for the ACT Party because the ACT Party is the only party that has stood up and fought for the rights of parents. Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker.