The Australian Government faces growing pressure to tighten Australia’s customs laws after the Senate passed a bill to ban anyone from importing products made using forced labour.
The Senate passed a bill proposed by the independent senator, Rex Patrick, but for the measure to come into effect it would also have to clear the Government-controlled lower house.
The coalition did not support passage of the legislation through the Senate, even though at least one Liberal senator said it was “a bill worthy of consideration and support in principle.”
It is being said that this bill is an important step forward in the international efforts to combat modern slavery. The onus is now on the coalition Government to allow the bill to clear the House of Representatives.
The bill would amend the Customs Act to prohibit the importation into Australia of goods produced or manufactured, in whole or in part, through the use of forced labour.
There is no specific reference to China, despite concerns about human rights abuses in Xinjiang being the initial trigger for the proposal – and something that was mentioned repeatedly in Monday’s Senate debate.
China has reacted on the same strongly. Cheng Jingye, the Chinese ambassador to Australia, says, “We will respond in kind.” He has warned Australia not to join Xinjiang sanctions.
“We can’t have the Government dodge the issue by saying that they are conducting another review,” Patrick said. “Action is required within the life of this Parliament, indeed within this calendar year.”
Ahead of the Senate vote, the Australian Council of Trade Unions joined with several groups to urge senators to support the bill. The president of the ACTU, Michele O’Neil, said there was “no possible defence for standing in the way of this bill.”