Queensland premier says government shouldn't tell parents how to discipline kidsBy state political reporter Jack McKayTopic:Parenting8m ago8 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 6:24amLoading...abc.net.au/news/qld-smacking-corporal-punishment-state-law-assault/105268720Link copiedShareShare articleQueensland Premier David Crisafulli says the government shouldn't tell parents how to discipline their children amid a push to ban corporal punishment and smacking.The Queensland Law Reform Commission (QLRC) is currently reviewing criminal defences, including one that allows parents to use "reasonable" force to control a child.In a consultation paper it released earlier this year, the QLRC proposed repealing the criminal code's domestic discipline defence or limiting its scope.Government won't give parenting 'advice'Asked about the issue on Thursday, Mr Crisafulli indicated his government would not make any law changes and insisted the state shouldn't tell guardians how to parent."We are ensuring that there are assault laws in place to prevent people being assaulted," he said."But to be crystal clear, the state government will not be telling parents how to provide discipline and structure and support to a child."It is not for the state government to provide advice to a family about how to provide discipline and structure."Call for law changeThe QLRC consultation paper notes the domestic discipline defence allows parents to use force that is "reasonable in the circumstances".It also points out the measure provides a "complete defence" to an offence where force is used.Is hitting a child a UN human rights violation?Photo shows Corporal punishmentAustralia's failure to outlaw the smacking of children is a United Nations human rights violation, a team of legal scholars and psychologists has found."This includes common assault but could also include more serious offences such as assault occasioning bodily harm or choking," it says."Each Australian jurisdiction has a similar defence, either in legislation or at common law."The domestic discipline defence raises issues about the ability for parents to discipline their children and the rights of children to be protected from all types of violence and abuse."University of Queensland Associate Professor Divna Haslam has authored a submission to the review that has been signed by groups like Bravehearts and Triple P International.The submission recommends the abolishment of the domestic discipline defence and calls for a statewide education campaign to outline the "harm" of physical punishment.The submission argues a full repeal of the defence would allow for clear messaging that "violence is never acceptable".Divna Haslam says there is no evidence that hitting children improves their behaviour. (ABC Radio Brisbane: Kenji Sato)Dr Haslam said corporal punishment was associated with negative outcomes such as poor mental health and increased aggression."There's decades of research that shows that domestic discipline or corporal punishment … is harmful to children," she said."It's ineffective. It actually doesn't work to reduce problem behaviours for children moving forward and it violates children's rights."'Clearly a hypocrite'Queensland Opposition Leader Steven Miles, who is a father of three, said he had never smacked his children.Opposition Leader Steven Miles says Mr Cirsafulli is a hypocrite. (ABC News: Kenji Sato)He also accused Mr Crisafulli of being hypocrite, pointing to the government's pause on hormone therapies for new trans patients under the age of 18 in the state health system."He says on one hand that he won't tell parents how they should parent their child," Mr Miles said."On the other hand, he tells health professionals at the children's hospital not to deliver healthcare to other people's children."David Crisafulli is pretty clearly a hypocrite on this front."Posted 8m ago8 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 6:24amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesGreens leader Adam Bandt concedes seat, ending 15 years in parliamentTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Adam Bandt press gallery doorstopMore women in Labor than ever but top jobs still going to menBAnalysis by Brett WorthingtonPhoto shows Anika Wells Amanda Rishworth Katie Gallagher Anne AlyAttorney-General Mark Dreyfus dumped from frontbench in factional carve-upLIVEPhoto shows Mark Dreyfus standing at the dispatch box in the federal parliament.Two men found guilty of murdering Indigenous schoolboy Cassius TurveyTopic:HomicidePhoto shows Cassius Turvey Forever 15Erin Patterson visibly upset as daughter gives evidence at murder trialLIVEPhoto shows A digital drawing of Erin Patterson wearing a pink shirtPopular nowAttorney-General Mark Dreyfus dumped from frontbench in factional carve-upLIVEPhoto shows Mark Dreyfus standing at the dispatch box in the federal parliament.Greens leader Adam Bandt concedes seat, ending 15 years in parliamentTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Adam Bandt press gallery doorstopErin Patterson visibly upset as daughter gives evidence at murder trialLIVEPhoto shows A digital drawing of Erin Patterson wearing a pink shirtRelated topicsParentingQLDState and Territory GovernmentTop StoriesGreens leader Adam Bandt concedes seat, ending 15 years in parliamentTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Adam Bandt press gallery doorstopMore women in Labor than ever but top jobs still going to menBAnalysis by Brett WorthingtonAttorney-General Mark Dreyfus dumped from frontbench in factional carve-upTopic:Government and PoliticsTwo men found guilty of murdering Indigenous schoolboy Cassius TurveyTopic:HomicideErin Patterson visibly upset as daughter gives evidence at murder trialTopic:Law, Crime and JusticeJust InGovernment shouldn't tell parents how to discipline kids, Crisafulli saysTopic:Parenting8m ago8 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 6:24amJail term doubled for 'muppets' involved in 100kg cocaine import attemptTopic:Cocaine19m ago19 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 6:12amMore women in Labor than ever but top jobs still going to menBAnalysis by Brett Worthington21m ago21 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 6:11amSoviet spacecraft will crash back to Earth within 48 hours, data suggestsTopic:Explainer22m ago22 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 6:10amMore Just InBack to top