Anniversary of Royal Assent

Today ACRATH Executive Officer Christine Carolan, President Sr. Clare Condon sgs and member Noelene Simmons sm were guest members of the National Roundtable at this commemorative event with the Attorney-General, the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP, and Assistant Minister for Social Services, Hon Justine Elliot MP, to mark the 10th anniversary of royal assent of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Slavery, Slavery-like Conditions and People Trafficking) Act 2013. The law was announced by  then Prime Minister Julia  Gillard and then, and now, Attorney General Mark Dreyfus on International Women’s Day 2013.

Roundtable members, including ACRATH’s Christine Carolan, who had played a part in advocating for the legislative amendments were asked to speak at the event. The significance of the Bill included inserting forced marriage, forced labour and organ trafficking offences in the Criminal Code Act 1995. ACRATH is very much aware of the postitive impact of the new legislation especially in terms of young women and girls facing a forced marriage.