KEY POINTS:
Only two National Party MPs are now backing Sue Bradford's bill to change the law on smacking.
Last night, only Katherine Rich and Paula Bennett were prepared to vote for the bill.
Simon Power, Jackie Blue and Paul Hutchison, who initially indicated they would support it, are now in line with the rest of their caucus in opposing it.
National is letting its MPs cast conscience votes on the bill rather than following a party line.
Dr Hutchison said a survey of his Port Waikato electorate showing overwhelming opposition to the bill had changed his mind.
Ms Bradford does not need National MPs to get her bill passed into law. She has 63 votes from the Labour Party, her own Green Party, the Maori Party, one from United Future and two from New Zealand First, giving her two more votes than she needs.
The bill is halfway through its committee stage, and unless the Government takes it over, it will not be debated again until after the Easter recess.
The Government is expected to decide on Tuesday whether to adopt it, which would mean it could be pushed up the order paper and sped through its remaining stages.
The bill amends the Crimes Act, removing the defence of justifiable "reasonable force" against a charge of assault on a child.
Opponents say it means parents who even lightly smack their children will be turned into criminals.
Supporters say removing the defence means people who savagely beat children won't be able to use it to escape conviction.
- NZPA
