2023-06-01
Labor Allowing Australia To Continue To Be A Dumping Ground For Goods Produced By Forced Labour.
The Australian Greens are continuing their campaign to ban the importation of goods produced by forced labour by proposing amendments to the Customs Legislation Amendment (Controlled Trials and Other Measures) Bill 2022
Despite Labor voting in support of banning products produced by forced labour when they were in opposition, today in Senate Estimates they could not confirm that they would do so again.
A wide range of community organisations are joining the Greens to call on Labor to prioritise this change.The outgoing UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet produced a report in 2022 that called on the Australian Government to block the import of goods made from forced labour from all countries.
Across our region, forced labour is occurring en masse, and many in the Australian community would be surprised to know that forced labour produces many goods that are used in Australia.
The latest Global Slavery Index found 50 million people worldwide now live in modern slavery. It also showed Australia’s at risk of importing at-risk products which amount to US $17.4 billion.
In Indonesia, forced labour is seen in industries including the production of palm oil and onboard fishing vessels. In Malaysia, migrant workers have been forced to produce garments. In Turkmenistan, state-sanctioned forced labour is used in the cotton industry. Since 2017, the Chinese government has imprisoned more than one million Uyghurs and subjected those not detained to forced production of garments, electronics, home decorations and more.
Lines attributable to Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Peace & Nuclear Disarmament:
“The Australian Government must do all it can to ensure that human rights are upheld globally.
“Amending the Customs Act would enforce a global ban. It would send a clear message to all countries that Australia sees modern slavery as unacceptable and that our community will not accept goods that have been produced by forced labour.
“We are calling on the Australian Labor Party to support this change, as they did in opposition. We have the opportunity to pass the Greens amendments when the Customs Act is next before the parliament. We could see this parliament take immediate action to stop forced labour imports and no longer have Australia implicated in these horrific human rights abuses.
“It’s time for Australia to no longer fall behind, and join countries like Canada and the United States who have implemented a ban.
Lines attributable to Carolyn Kitto, Be Slavery Free:
‘No-one wants to buy products which have been produced through another person being in slavery like conditions. The social licence to be exposed to such goods is rapidly disappearing. The Australian Government needs to catch up with the desire of the Australian people and the practices of others globally in banning the import of products made with forced and child labour.
If we truly want a level playing field for Australian business we need to make it easier for companies seeking to do the right thing for people to work freely in their supply chains.
We risk becoming a dumping ground for products made with forced labour which are banned from entering the USA, Mexico, Canada, the European Union and the UK.
We have seen the effectiveness of ‘forced labour ban legislations’ in driving change in labour rights for marginalised workers.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Steele-John - Sophie Greer 0448 316 387
Be Slavery Free - Carolyn Kitto 0438 040 959 (Please use What’sApp.)
Background
- In 2021 a bill to ban the importation of goods produced by forced labour passed the Australian Senate, with the support of the Greens and the Australian Labor Party. This bill did not progress through the House of Representatives prior to the dissolution of the 46th Parliament.
- In November 2022, Senator Jordon Steele-John introduced the same legislation as a private senator's bill.
- The bill would amend the Customs Act to ensure a ban on the import of goods produced by forced labour.
- Further steps will be taken by the Australian Greens to move an amendment in the Senate to the Customs Legislation Amendment (Controlled Trials and Other Measures) Bill 2022 to legislate the forced labour ban.
- The Modern Slavery Act Review, released in May 2023 available here.