NSW: Parents should decide about smacking children: poll

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2007
NSW: Parents should decide about smacking children: poll

SYDNEY, April 7 AAP - Australians believe parents should be able to decide whether
to smack their children, a News Limited online poll shows.

The result follows advice from the federal government-funded Australian Childhood Foundation,
which has released guidelines recommending against smacking.

As part of its $2.5-million campaign, the foundation says smacking children teaches
them violence is acceptable later in life.

The News Ltd poll of 2000 people on The Daily Telegraph website revealed 92 per cent
of people who responded said they supported the view that smacking was "sometimes" necessary,
while 8 per cent said it was never acceptable.

Several child welfare and parenting experts have said they supported the guidelines.

AAP krc/rs

KEYWORD: SMACK POLL

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