No to People Trafficking. No to Slavery.

Prime Minister Gillard’s Announcement for International Women’s Day

At an International Women’s Day Breakfast in Sydney Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that the Slavery, Slavery-like Conditions and People Trafficking Act was signed into law by the Governor General on 7th March 2013.  She also indicated that Australia is  updating its National Action Plan to combat trafficking, slavery and forced marriage and it is hoped this plan will be implemented in 2014.

The Prime Minister also announced a new whole-of-government strategy to reinforce ethical behaviour in procurement so that no firm providing goods or services to the Commonwealth is tainted by slavery or people-trafficking anywhere in the supply chain.  ACRATH, along with other NGOs, has for some time been advocating for  slave free supply chains.  We congratulate our Government for taking this step.

View a copy of the Prime Minister’s speech here.