PM ponders G20 push against modern slavery

A religious delegation has asked the Prime Minister to push for reference in the G20 communique to end modern slavery.

Australian co-founder of the G20 Interfaith Forum, Brian Adams has written to Scott Morrison asking Australia to take a lead role in pushing G20 countries on modern slavery. Picture: Gary Ramage

Scott Morrison is considering proposals to be put at the G20 summit to recognise human trafficking and anti-slavery as priority global issues in need of urgent action from world leaders.

An Australian-backed religious delegation to the world summit in Buenos Aires has asked the Prime Minister to push for reference in the G20 formal communique to end modern slavery.

The host nation, Argentina, is keen on promoting a global campaign against slavery and human trafficking and Mr Morrison is sympathetic to the cause.

As he goes to Argentina, Mr Morrison is considering a request from the Australian co-founder of the G20 Interfaith Forum, Brian Adams, to press for the inclusion of a reference to ending modern slavery in the final communique.

The federal government is currently drafting anti-slavery legislation covering government procurement that would place Australia at the head of a growing Western movement to eradicate slavery, estimated to affect 40 million people worldwide.

Governments and corporations are under pressure to ensure their chains of supply do not ­include goods produced at any stage by people enslaved directly or through debt.

Dr Adams wrote to Mr Morrison asking Australia to take a lead role in pushing G20 countries that include UN Security Council members the US, China, Russia, Britain and France on modern slavery. “This year’s G20 host ­Argentina has been asked to canvas these recommendations at the G20 summit,” he said in the letter.

Dr Adams said Argentina had been at the forefront of the antislavery cause, co-sponsoring ­motions with Britain and with the key support of the Vatican.

“There is distinct urgency to these recommendations,” Dr Adams said. “Virtually all countries have banned slavery but forced labour and slavery-like conditions continue.”

The interfaith group believes there must be more legislation worldwide to combat slavery and meet a 2025-30 deadline with the need to move from “words on the page to bold, determined … action, accountability and achievement”.