Dr Gervase Chaney, head of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians' Paediatric and Child Health Division, said smacking was tantamount to child abuse, arguing it was no longer acceptable for parents to use the excuse it "never did any harm" to them.

A local psychologist has supported the push, saying the law had to consider the "grey area" between smacking and assault.

"It's very hard to have effective child protection legislation if you are legally able to hit kids," Michael Kruger-Davis said.

"That's why corporal punishment was abolished in schools.

"There are other way of disciplining inappropriate behaviour; lots of positive ways without resorting to physical punishment."

He said it was "hyprocritical" of parents to expect a child not to engage in violence if they were subjected to it from their role models.

"It's hard for kids to understand why someone they love is hitting them," Mr Kruger-Davis said.

But Griffith mum of three and educator with Western Riverina Family Day Care Scheme Kylie Parsons said to outlaw smacking would be to deny mums and dads a crucial parenting tool.

"In a day care setting, smacking is obviously not used at all," Mrs Parsons said.

"But as a parent, there really are occasions where it may be required. It can be as simple as a slap on the hand, it doesn't have to be a full-on whack.

"I agree it can go too far but I think a lot more parents use it the right way than the wrong way."

Local Headstart Early Learning Centre director Melody Ashcroft said isolating the root cause of a child's bad behaviour could often lead to a solution.

"We try distraction as the first action so, for example, if a child is having a disagreement with another child, we try to lead them to another activity," Ms Ashcroft said.

"We also use time-outs and try and develop an action plan with parents.

"By smacking a child, you're telling them the best way to deal with inappropriate behaviour is to smack and they might adopt that themselves."