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Is corporal punishment in schools illegal in Australia?

Partly. Corporal punishment in schools is restricted in Australia. No national law; Queensland law still allows it in private schools.

ECP table Mar 2025: SOME - prohibited in all states/territories except Queensland; Queensland bans it in state schools by policy but Criminal Code s280 still gives teachers a defence (QLD gov. review). No national law.

Source: ECP; Queensland Code s280

• Australia is one of 124 countries where corporal punishment in schools is banned, and 30 more restrict it.
• In Oceania: banned in 3 of 6 countries.

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Other countries that ban corporal punishment in schools

AndorraUnited Arab EmiratesAlbaniaArmeniaArgentinaAustriaAzerbaijanBosnia & HerzegovinaBangladeshBelgiumBulgariaBahrainBeninBoliviaAll 124 on the map ›

What else is banned in Australia