Paula Bennett: The Child Discipline Law appears to be working

August 3, 2009

Wellington, Aug 2 NZPA – Social Development Minister Paula Bennett will not vote in the smacking referendum she said today.

Instead she will “shut up” and listen.

“I think this is a time for politicians to listen, actually it wouldn’t do any harm for some of us to shut up for a while, see what the public think and then make some plans from there,” Ms Bennett told TV One’s Q+A programme.

Politicians had the opportunity to put forward their views every day, she said.

However, she said the current law appeared to be working.

“Certainly I suppose I see that through Child Youth and Family, and through being the minister for that, that I am not alarmed by anything that seems to have changed drastically in the last couple of years.”