Our Statement of Support for a Modern Slavery Act in the ACT

This morning in Canberra, Jo Clay, ACT Greens MLA for Ginninderra, tabled a bill in ACT Parliament to address modern slavery.

The bill proposes to:

• Create an ACT Anti-slavery Commissioner, who would advocate for action to combat modern slavery and protect the the rights of survivors.
  
• Introduce steps to identify and address modern slavery risks in the goods and services the ACT government sources.
  

Jo Clay said, “Canberrans care about the wellbeing of those in our community, where products come from, where they end up and the welfare of those who are involved in these supply chains. This Bill is an important first step in legislating to effectively respond to modern slavery in the ACT and I look forward to the important community conversation this legislation will initiate.”

Learn more about the proposed legislation

---

Project Didi Australia welcomes the tabling of a bill for a Modern Slavery Act in the Australian Capital Territory. 

Project Didi Australia works to empower women and girls who have experienced trafficking and gender-based violence. We partner with locally-led organisations in Nepal, who are specialists in trauma-informed care, education and pathways to safe employment. We also raise awareness and advocate for action to end modern slavery with our community in Australia.
  
Project Didi was established in 2014 in the ACT by three Canberra businesswomen and is actively engaged in the local community, with Board and volunteer representation in the territory and collaboration with local business and schools on fundraising and awareness raising events.  

There are three key reasons we support the introduction of a Modern Slavery Act in the ACT

1. Modern slavery denies people their freedom, dignity, wellbeing and economic security and has detrimental, long-term consequences for their families, communities and society. Modern slavery happens in Australia and in the production of the goods and services Australia procures. A Modern Slavery Act in the ACT could support greater collaboration between government, business, civil society and people with lived experience to bring about meaningful change on modern slavery.
   
   
2. The leadership position the legislation, if enacted, establishes for the ACT (as the second Australian state or territory with a Modern Slavery Act) creates an enabling environment for organisations, like ours, to progress action on modern slavery. 
   
   
3. The establishment of an Anti-slavery Commissioner could increase much needed efforts to raise community awareness of modern slavery. From our engagement with the ACT community, we have seen that, while there is a keen interest to address modern slavery and promote human rights, awareness of key risks and effective action is limited. 

We urge the ACT Government to progress the bill and welcome the opportunity to engage further through public consultation.