7 December 2017

Senator Reynolds welcomes report into establishing a Modern Slavery Act

WA Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds has welcomed the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade’s landmark report into establishing a Modern Slavery Act in Australia.

The bipartisan report was tabled in the Senate today and recommendations include the establishment of an Australian Modern Slavery Act, the creation of an independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, and provisions to better investigate modern slavery.

Senator Reynolds said it was the first comprehensive approach to tackling modern slavery in Australia.

“Modern slavery is not just a problem for other countries. For too long, modern slavery has remained hidden in plain sight in Australia, but the fact is that there are more slaves now than at any other time in history, with an estimated 45 million worldwide and 4,600 in Australia,” Senator Reynolds said.

“I am delighted that we are taking steps to tackle this problem both at home and overseas through a number of recommendations, which were a result of bipartisan efforts.

“I came to the issue of modern slavery after I learned that more than 8 million children globally are at risk exploitation in for-profit ‘orphanages.’ In fact, more than 80 per cent of them are not orphans, but many were being exploited in institutions in order to make money through the donations and volunteering efforts of unwitting western tourists, including thousands of Australians.”

Senator Reynolds said after realising that this form of child exploitation was in fact a form of modern slavery, she ensured this issue was examined in the modern slavery inquiry.

“Australia is now leading the world against orphanage tourism, becoming the first country to recognise this as a form of modern slavery,” Senator Reynolds said.

“There has been increased awareness of the issue of modern slavery more broadly, both in the media and in organisations, with several companies and organisations taking steps to ensure they do not have slavery within their supply chains.

“This report is the next step toward ending the scourge of modern slavery.”

To read the full report visit https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Foreign_Affairs_Defence_and_Trade/ModernSlavery/Report_1

Media Contact: Amy Blom 08 9477 5411, 0431 685 372 or amy.blom@aph.gov.au