Colin Espiner: National confusing on “smacking” position

STUFF.CO.NZ – ON THE HOUSE BLOG: Just an update on the "smacking" legislation. I was intrigued today to see National's leader John Key leading off questions in the House today on the timing of a referendum over the issue. National further followed this up with slots during the general debate this afternoon.

I think this is dangerous territory for National. Key appears to believe he can slate the Government for deciding not to hold a referendum on whether or not smacking should be a criminal offence with this year's general election, while at the same time supporting the legislation the referendum seeks to overturn.

Key today accused Prime Minister Helen Clark of "suppressing the will of the New Zealand people" by holding the referendum by postal ballot some time next year, rather than at the election. Does this mean he will follow the "will of the people" and overturn Sue Bradford's child discipline law if National wins the election?

I'm also not sure how not holding the referendum - if indeed one is triggered, and we don't know that yet - with the general election constitutes an affront to democracy, so long as a referendum is still held as soon as possible afterwards.

I take the point that Clark probably doesn't want this issue on the ballot paper in October or November, and that she will be grateful to the authorities for deciding it just isn't possible. It was, however, their decision - not hers.

Politically, however, I can't understand why John Key wants to revive this issue either. It was largely his decision to corral his MPs into line and make them vote for Bradford's bill, and at the time he basked in the glory of the political accord with Labour that made that possible.

Now, just because a few fundementalist Christian groups led by Larry Baldock appear to have forced a referendum on the matter, Key appears to be trying to jump on the populist bandwagon. Well, he can't have it both ways - either he thinks the law is a good one, or he's changed his mind. I'm keen to hear which it is.

Either way, National appears to have decided it does want the matter to become an election issue. I'm not sure how it benefits from this, unless it wants to ensure it's not harmed by having voted for the bill. But given its Labour that is taking all the heat anyway, why didn't National let it lie?

If it's not careful, it will attract the attention of all the flaky proponents of the referendum that Key managed to shrug off last year when he signed up to the legislation. They are the sort middle New Zealand runs from - and National needs middle New Zealand to win the election.