Bleeding hearts want Qld to become a smack-free state

A new-aged army want to outlaw parents’ rights to smack their kids in Queensland, with the group claiming it’s a “violation of children’s fundamental human rights”. HAVE YOUR SAY

There are calls for hitting children to be outlawed in Queensland. Photo: istock.

Getting a smack from mum or dad when you misbehaved was common for many Australians who grew up in the 20th Century and early 2000s, but there’s calls to make the act illegal.

A new-aged army wants to see the practice of physical discipline outlawed in Queensland, with the group claiming it’s a “violation of children’s fundamental human rights”.

The Queensland Law Reform Commission is undertaking a review of criminal defences, with Section 280 of the Criminal Code mentioning a defence for carers to use “such force as is reasonable” to discipline children.

Though a submission to the review believed physical punishment stemmed from “earlier legal systems” and a time where masters had a right to hit “children and slaves”, describing the practice as “archaic”.

“This legal provision has its origins in earlier legal systems that allowed for the disciplining of children in ways that mirrored the historical treatment of slaves, where the concept of a ‘master’s right’ to physically discipline subordinates, including children and slaves, was widely accepted,” the submission stated.

“This foundational belief is now viewed as archaic and is out of step with current opinions and practices.”

On Thursday Premier David Crisafulli firmly ruled out any changes to Queensland’s laws around smacking children.

“There are assault laws in place, and they have to be there to prevent someone being assaulted, whether they’re young or old,” he said.

“It’s not for the state government to tell a parent how to provide discipline and structure and guidance and support to a child.

“With the greatest of respect to experts, the vast majority of parents want to know that their state government will clamp down on people who are assaulting anyone of any age.

“Assault will not be tolerated — zero tolerance. Discipline and structure is not for the state government to tell parents how to parent.”

Premier David Crisafulli and Minister for Police Dan Purdie, at a news conference, at Upper Mount Gravatt Police Station, Logan Rd, Upper Mount Gravatt, - on Monday 5th May 2025 - Photo Steve Pohlner

Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek echoed the Premier’s position, saying Queensland’s current laws were sufficient.

“There are assault laws in place. And you can’t assault somebody.”

Asked directly if smacking a child was assault, Mr Langbroek repeated: “There are assault laws in place. So I’m not telling parents how to provide discipline to them.”

Brisbane radio host Kip Wightman recently revealed on-air his father would erupt in anger and lash out.

“We grew up in the smack generation,” Wightman said.

“He definitely smacked us, and he smacked us in anger sometimes.”

It was also common for misbehaving students to be dragged to the principal’s office in a bygone era, before the Department of Education in Queensland banned physical punishment in state schools in 1995.

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