Latest news with #ModernSlaveryBill
Scoop
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Labour Takes Action On Modern Slavery
Labour has drafted legislation to stop modern slavery because the Government once again is breaking its promises. 'The Prime Minister said he would march in the street against modern slavery and yet 18 months into Government, he has failed to take any meaningful action or show any leadership,' Labour MP Camilla Belich said. 'My Modern Slavery Bill takes a comprehensive approach to addressing modern slavery, will create an Anti-Slavery Commissioner and require entities to report on how they identify and stop modern slavery from happening. 'Labour will tackle the exploitation of people in our country and abroad. The bill sets out clear steps for New Zealand to take a stand against modern slavery, it's well overdue. 'Last year Chris Hipkins wrote to Christopher Luxon offering bipartisan agreement on the issue – but there has been no response so Labour is taking action. 'It seems the coalition Government is comfortable with modern slavery happening in New Zealand and in our supply chains. 'Not only does it show where National's moral compass really is, it also puts at risk our free trade agreements with the UK and the EU where we signed up to take action. 'I would like to acknowledge the work of the Modern Slavery and Trafficking Expert Practitioners Group (MSTEP), who worked to draft this Bill as something all parties could get behind. 'If we do not act, we risk being left behind by other countries that are already putting in place measures to combat modern slavery. This Government should put its money where its mouth is and do what's best for people and business,' Camilla Belich said.
Scoop
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Thousands Of Teens Plead For Government To Take Action On Modern Slavery
This week more than 2,000 letters from New Zealand children and young people will be presented to MPs calling for urgent action on modern slavery. A delegation of World Vision youth Advocacy Ambassadors will present the letters to MPs on Parliament's Steps at 12.30pm on Wednesday July 16. National MP Greg Flemming and Labour MP Camilla Belich will be there to receive the submissions. The letters were written and collected at a series of World Vision New Zealand Youth Conferences and universities earlier in the year where thousands expressed their dismay at New Zealand's lack of laws to address modern slavery. World Vision Advocacy Ambassador 19-year-old Lily Murphy says New Zealand young people are passionate about the need for action on modern slavery. 'It is disgraceful that New Zealand has failed for so long to introduce any form of regulation against using modern slavery in Kiwi production lines. 'Young people are calling for a system where doing the right thing isn't optional, it's the law,' the Dunedin student says. Messages contained in the letters to MPs include: 'I don't want my belongings created by someone whose human rights are ignored.' 'As a country we have a responsibility to ensure that our goods and services are not supporting exploitation, to prevent abuse, and support victims of slavery.' 'New Zealanders deserve to know that our goods and services are not built on the backs of exploited people.' Fellow World Vision Advocacy Ambassador, 19-year-old Breanna Rickman, says she hopes MPs will take heed of the collective call from young people for a Modern Slavery Act. 'Young people all over New Zealand care about addressing modern slavery because they can see and understand the harsh effect it has on millions of people. 'We want the MPs to receive these letters and understand that there are so many people who are passionate about making this change for our country. This is a plea from New Zealand young people for our MPs to act as the representatives we voted them to be and back a Modern Slavery Bill,' she says. There is currently a Private Member's Bill from National MP Greg Flemming in the ballot while Labour was preparing to introduce a Modern Slavery Act when it was in Government. World Vision National Director, Grant Bayldon, who will also be at parliament for the handover of the letters, says there is cross party support for a modern slavery act. 'We know both Labour and National support some form of regulation to address modern slavery. Let's capitalise on that consensus! We need our MPs to put the politics aside and to come together to protect the millions who are affected by modern slavery,' he says. Notes: The following MPs will meet with the World Vision Advocacy Ambassadors as they present their letters: Rachel Brooking (Labour) Shanan Halbert (Labour) Ingrid Leary (Labour) Tamatha Paul (Green) Suze Redmayne (National) Tom Rutherford (National) Jane Tinetti (Labour) Ryan Hamilton (National) Debbie Ngarewa-Packer (Te Pati Maori) Miles Anderson (National) Menéndez March Ricardon (Green) Wedd Catherine (National) Willis Scott (Green) Camilla Belich (Labour) Greg Fleming (National)
