Question - Human rights

Question

Number
251
Subject
Human rights
(Anti-slavery commissioner)
Asked by
Clay, Jo
Directed to
Minister for Human Rights
Question asked on
20 March 2025
Answer due on
20 April 2025
Question asked
  1. Given that the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner is reviewing that States deal to buy 319 electric buses over concerns that batteries made by Chinese firm Contemporary Amerex Technology Company Limited (CATL) may have been produced in forced Uyghur Labor camps, and that during the 10th Assembly, a bill was presented to establish an anti-slavery commissioner as part of our Human Rights Commission and harmonised with the Commonwealth system, to ensure that the ACT also had capacity to proactively review and address modern slavery occurring within our borders and in our supply chains, are the current laws and procurement system in the ACT ensuring that we are not supporting modern slavery within the ACT.
  2. Is the ACT Government considering establishing an anti-slavery commissioner like New South Wales.
  3. Has the ACT Government inadvertently supported modern slavery through (a) its bus procurement and (b) other recent procurements.
  4. Has the ACT Government proactively reviewed other procurement areas highlighted as of high concern, such as textiles, solar panels and batteries.
  5. Has the ACT Government planned further legislative or administrative reform to ensure Government supply chains do not rely on modern slavery.