A coalition of Australian parenting researchers and advocates is pushing for new laws to make it a criminal offence for parents to smack their children.

Their call comes after the first Australian national child maltreatment study shows 16-24-year-olds who were smacked repeatedly by their parents were nearly twice as likely to develop anxiety and depression later in life.

Australian Catholic University’s Institute of Child Protection Studies director Professor Daryl Higgins, who is part of the Parenting and Family research alliance, told Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast the early findings show some interesting impacts smacking had on children later in life.

“We found that 62 per cent of 16-24-year-olds had experienced four or more instances of physical punishment during their childhood, so we know it’s still a common experience of young people who’s childhood is not that far away,” he said.

Tap PLAY to hear more findings from the study