Government and business working to combat modern slavery

Today I will co-chair the first meeting of the Bali Process Governmentand Business Forum (Perth Forum) with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudiin Perth.

Ministers and business leaders of the 48 member Bali Process will meet todevelop innovative strategies to combat modern slavery, human trafficking andforced labour, and prevent exploitation of migrant workers and other vulnerableemployees.

The Perth Forum brings together regional governments and the privatesector for the first time to comprehensively tackle these crimes. Cooperationof this kind is critical. Of the tens of millions of people worldwide who aresubject to human trafficking or forced labour, more than half are in ourregion, the Indo-Pacific.

Mr Andrew Forrest AO, Chairman of Fortescue Metals Group and founder ofthe Walk Free Foundation, and Mr Eddy Sariaatmadja, founder and Chairman ofEmtek, will lead the Perth Forum as Business Co-Chairs for Australia andIndonesia.

This reflects increasing recognition by the regional business communityof the commercial and reputational risk of forced labour in supply chains. Asmomentum builds to combat modern slavery it is important governments supportthe efforts of business to identify practical and innovative solutions.

The Government and Business Forum will become a permanent and valuablefeature of our regional cooperation under the Bali Process, ledby Australia and Indonesia.