Parents could be banned from doling out physical punishment after researchers linked smacking to a surge in mental health issues in early adulthood.
A study by the Australian Catholic University found that six in 10 subjects of an 8,500 sample reported being hit at least four times during their early years.
The study - which focused on respondents between the ages of 16 and 24 - found girls smacked as children were 1.8 times more likely to develop a major depressive disorder.
