NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has slapped down a push by doctors to make it illegal for parents to smack their children.
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians wants laws to be introduced that protect children from any form of physical punishment.
But Mr O'Farrell says it will be difficult to enforce such legislation.
"Parenting is difficult enough now without people proposing laws that would be impossible to police, and it wouldn't take it any further," he told reporters on Friday.
"I think we have got the right balance here in NSW and we are not proposing to change the law."
Mr O'Farrell also defended parents against interference from authorities.
"Parents have difficult times in raising children.
Doctors want smacking made illegal:
"I think most parents do it bloody well, and we shouldn't be trying to make it any more difficult for them."
At a press conference in Sydney on Friday, the RACP's Associate Professor Susan Moloney said the laws were not about punishing parents but getting them to use other, more effective forms of punishment.
Professor Kim Oates, from the University of Sydney, said similar legislation had been effective in the 33 countries where it had been introduced.
"Nobody is going to catch someone for a light hit of a child but parents will learn that that's not the most effective method," he told reporters.
Prof Oates said a lot of severe child abuse started off as hitting.
"If we can get rid of that it will go a long way towards protecting children.
"There are many cases where discipline has got out of hand, all paediatricians see it ...
"Children have been killed by parents and suffered many broken arms and black eyes and severe bruising."
Ms Moloney said parents needed to be made aware of harmful effects of hitting such as depression, anxiety and increased aggressive behaviour.
She said the new laws wouldn't result in a rash of parents being arrested.
"But what it has done (elsewhere) is identify families at risk of child abuse early and it's actually stopped families using physical abuse."
Prof Moloney said there was currently legislation to protect children from smoking in cars and people could be arrested for hitting their dog - but it's legal for parents to use "reasonable" corporal punishment to discipline children.
"A child, the most vulnerable and dependent member of our society, is still the only person in Australia whom it is legal to hit," she told reporters.
The college, which represents 14,000 physicians, is running a public awareness campaign to educate parents about the alternatives to smacking as part of its campaign for legal reform.
Federal Minister for the Status of Women Julie Collins said educating parents to understand the impact of how they speak to and treat their children was most important.
"What the national framework for the protection of Australia's children is all about is prevention and ensuring that children and families are safe and that they have the supports that they need to build a strong family unit," Ms Collins said in Melbourne.
Victorian Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge rejected the idea of changing Victoria's laws to outlaw smacking and instead said education was the key.
"We need to educate parents in relation to the issue of smacking ... that there are alternatives to that, she said.
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