The week before last we submitted our petition to the Australian government. We made sure that they heard our call for a strong anti-slavery law that will help mobilize business to take action to end modern slavery, especially in the Asia Pacific region, where an estimated 30 million people are affected, and nearly half of all Australia’s goods come from.[1]

There’s still time to add your name to the call for a strong anti-slavery law in Australia.

And we’ve made real progress! At the close of their inquiry process, a committee report was released, with our petition listed,[2] and it was clear that they heard us. The recommendations included:

1. An independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner to ensure the law is well implemented;
2. Requiring the Australian government to only procure from businesses that complete a modern slavery statement; and
3. Increased support for victims.

Freedom United supporters like Cheryl Kirby said she’d rather know where products come from and buy ethically because slavery hurts us all. And supporter Jacqueline Glass said that a strong anti-slavery law in Australia is necessary, but putting the resources behind it to make sure it is implemented properly is even more critical.

Please add your voice and join us in calling on Australia to be a global and regional leader in the fight against slavery.

Organizations and businesses all over the world are asking Australia to make sure this new law adequately protects victims of slavery and provides a clear path for companies to report on findings in their supply chains, but we still have a long road ahead of us.

We are working to obtain a meeting with our target Justice Minister Michael Keenan in the new year but, in the meantime, will you join us and add your name?

In solidarity,

Joanna, Alex, Carolyn, Fuzz and the teams at Freedom United and Stop the Traffik Australia

To SIGN go to: https://www.freedomunited.org/advocate/urge-australia-help-end-slavery/?trk_msg=ED74IIKILRB47AIN68RV7LMLDG&trk_contact=037FSGUJ91I19DOFIHRSCHO86K&trk_sid=BQ46R0K86OJ559B4AQDMA77T8O&utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=View+Now&utm_campaign=FU-EN-OCT-2017-AUSTRALIA-MSA&utm_content=Aus_MSA_chaser_NAT_17Dec_2017

[1] http://dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/trade-investment/australias-trade-in-goods-and-services/Pages/australias-trade-in-goods-and-services-2016.aspx
[2]https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Foreign_Affairs_Defence_and_Trade/ModernSlavery/Final_report/section?id=committees%2freportjnt%2f024102%2f25514