Sometimes it is parents who are abused

The good of society requires that child abuse be thwarted. Likewise, abusive children should not be granted extra ploys through which to blackmail their parents, guardians or carers.

All seem in favour of family-strengthening measures - what is in dispute is the way forward. The advertising and marketing confraternity know through their studies and experience that by targeting minors they have a very good way into the pockets of the paying parents, guardians or carers.

Similarly, some children know seemingly by instinct that by, for example, bawling and crying in shops, supermarkets and department stores, they can succeed in compelling their parents or guardians to purchase the desired sweets, energy drink or sports accessory they desire irrespective of the price or other considerations, such as hefty utility bills. Imagine how this has been increased exponentially in regard to some weak parents by tertiary educated, still under-age offspring who, for example, might threaten to phone the helpline if funds are not provided for a trip abroad, an expensive camera phone or other current fashionable must-haves (promoted so aptly by not one Progress Press printed magazine!).

Thus the legislator, when thinking about changing laws which have stood us in good stead for decades, must evaluate any undesirable consequences which similar legislation has brought about abroad.