The purpose of this Bill is to make amendments of existing Divisions of the Criminal Code Act 1995 and section 21B of the Crimes Act 1914. The Bill will establish new offences of forced labour, forced marriage, organ trafficking and harbouring a victim. The Bill will also modify the scope and application of existing offences of slavery, deceptive recruiting, sexual servitude and trafficking in persons, and increase the penalty for the offence of debt bondage.

Anti-Slavery Australia recommends the passage of the Bill to the Committee. Anti-Slavery Australia supports the clarification of slavery and sexual servitude offences and the creation of stand-alone offences of forced labour, deceptive recruiting and forced marriage in the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). Anti-Slavery Australia commends the bill for strengthening Australia’s compliance with international law. Anti-Slavery Australia reiterates the need for a compensation scheme for victims of trafficking, which is not addressed by the bill.

Anti-Slavery Australia Submission to the Inquiry into Crimes Legislation Amendment (Slavery, Slavery-like Conditions and People Trafficking) Bill 2012 (2012)