Senate debates

Monday, 3 December 2018

Motions

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

4:10 pm

Photo of Anne UrquhartAnne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Singh, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) observes:

(i) that 2 December 2018 was International Day for the Abolition of Slavery,

(ii) more than 40 million people are in modern slavery, including 24 million in forced labour and 15 million in forced marriage,

(iii) one in four victims of modern slavery are children; and women and girls account for 99% of victims in the commercial sex industry, and 58% in other sectors, and

(iv) some of these individuals are based in Australia, or are connected to Australian companies' supply chains;

(b) recognises:

(i) the report of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, Hidden in plain sight: An inquiry into establishing a Modern Slavery Act in Australia,

(ii) the work of countries, such as the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands, in enacting legislation to combat modern slavery, and

(iii) that Australia needs an enforceable Modern Slavery Act; and

(c) calls on the Morrison Government to establish an Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, and civil penalties for noncompliance.

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