Sunrise host Nat Barr weighs in on smacking debate as Queensland pushes to outlaw the violent act
Sunrise host Nat Barr has backed calls to make smacking kids a crime, amid a push to outlaw the violent act and wider use of corporal punishment against children in Queensland.
The proposed legal change is backed by 100 health and welfare experts including The Daniel Morcombe Foundation and Bravehearts.
The Queensland Law Reform Commission is reviewing Section 280 of the criminal code which provides a defence against assault charges for parents, carers, and teachers who use 'reasonable' corporal punishment.
QLRC proposes giving children the same legal protections from assault as adults, or limiting the defence to parents 'using minimal force'.
The proposed law will ban any use of punishment that injures a child, including the use of wooden spoons or belts. It will also criminalise any force applied to a child's head, face, or neck.
Under the proposed reforms, 'force used in anger is not for the purpose of correction or discipline'.
Barr, herself a mother-of-two, said: 'The old arguments of 'we were hit as a kid', it doesn't really wash now. We didn't have seatbelts either.'
The compulsory wearing of seatbelts was only made law across Australian states in the early 1970s.
Barr was joined in Thursday's discussion by Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas and Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli, who both backed the ban.
'My view has probably changed or softened on this,' Zempilas said.
'As a parent, when the kids were in nappies, a little tap on the nappy, which is quite thick, I thought was OK. But I must admit, I'm rethinking that now, and the act of that violent-looking act.
'I think it comes down to the force. But this is the problem, isn't it? How do you judge what the right or wrong force is and what is acceptable and what is not?
'So, I understand this conversation. I think my view is probably changing and in 10 years or so, when smacking is banned altogether, we'll probably look back and go 'can you believe you used to be able to smack kids?'.'
Barr then asked Natoli about her opinion.
'Let's be real here. We're talking about hitting that is either to the head, face or neck, or that leaves an injury so that's how they're defining it for this legislation,' Natoli said.
'I think that as a society, when you've got really credible organisations such as Braveheart or the Daniel Morcombe Foundation behind this, then we do need to listen.
'As a parent, on a personal note, I deeply regret that on the rare times when I did really lose control and I smacked my children, that wasn't out of clear discipline. It was out of frustration.
'So, I think that as a society, we have moved on, and we need to make it a clear message that violence is not the answer, violence is not OK.
'I think this is actually where we need to go as a society.'
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