Plan to Combat Modern Slavery

The 12th annual meeting of the National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery took place in Canberra on 9th December 2020. The Roundtable brings together stakeholders from 12 government agencies and 14 industry bodies and civil society organisations. ACRATH values being a member of the Roundtable and the opportunity this provides to advocate for a victim centred approach to working against modern slavery.

During the Roundtable the National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery 2020-2025 was launched by the Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Jason Wood MP. The plan, developed following extensive consultation with civil society organisations, unions, peak bodies and academic researchers, contains five strategic priorities: Prevent; Disrupt, investigate and prosecute; Support and protect; Partner and Research. In launching the plan Minister Wood said:

“The National Action Plan builds on existing efforts to combat modern slavery, including the landmark Modern Slavery Act 2018 (the Act). Under the Act, the Government agreed to submit its own annual modern slavery statements, holding itself to the same standard as large businesses and entities who are required to report on their own modern slavery risks.”

A copy of the plan may be accessed here.