Labor today announced our support for an Australian Modern Slavery Act, to improve transparency within business supply chains and help break the chains of modern slavery.

Labor made today’s announcement alongside the ACTU, the Business Council of Australia and the Salvation Army, representing the community sector. 

There are an estimated 45.8 million people held in slavery, many of whom are stuck in the global supply chains of products and services Australians use every day. 

Turning a blind eye to allegations of slavery should never be an option.

An Australian Modern Slavery Act would require major Australian companies to publicly report on the steps they are taking to tackle slavery in their business or supply chain. For the first time, Labor is making it crystal clear that big businesses need to know what is happening in their supply chains.

No person wants to purchase goods tainted by slavery. No business wants slavery in its supply chains.

Labor has also committed to establishing an Anti-Slavery Commissioner to help victims of modern slavery right here in Australia, and fight slavery both in Australia and overseas. 

Unbelievably, an estimated 4,300 people are currently trapped in slavery right here in Australia in exploitative criminal syndicates involved in forced labour, sex trafficking and debt bondage.

The business community and the union movement are standing with us to stamp out slavery in supply chains.

We call on the Turnbull Government to join us in the fight against slavery, and work with us to introduce an Australian Modern Slavery Act.

Labor is committed to fighting modern slavery. If Mr Turnbull fails to act, a Shorten Labor Government will.  

A factsheet on today’s announcement is available here.

MONDAY, 5 JUNE 2017