The Australian Government’s response to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade’s Trading Lives: Modern Day Human Trafficking report was tabled in Parliament.
The Committee’s report followed an extensive inquiry into slavery, slavery-like conditions and people trafficking.
The inquiry received 82 public submissions and held 10 public hearings.
In its report, the Committee made eight recommendations for Australia’s whole of government strategy to combat human trafficking and slavery.
The Government has carefully considered the Committee’s report and has accepted one recommendation in full, partially accepted four recommendations and either accepted in principle or noted the remaining three recommendations.
Australia’s strategy to combat human trafficking and slavery is robust and will continue to adapt as the nature of this crime changes.
However, there is more work to be done to combat these abhorrent crimes and the Government is committed to preventing and addressing all forms of human trafficking and slavery.
The Government response was prepared in consultation with the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Social Services, Immigration and Border Protection, and Communications.
The report also highlights the formation of a Supply Chains Working Group which will examine ways to address exploitative practices in the supply chains of goods and services, and the development of a new National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and Slavery which I will launch in the coming months.
I thank the Committee for its detailed consideration of this important issue.
A copy of the response, along with the report, will be made available at the Parliament of Australia website.
