Potential banana imports highlight human rights gaps

Bob Katter MP has highlighted child labour concerns regarding potential banana imports from the Philippines. There are legitimate and well-known concerns about child labour in the banana industry in the Philippines and other global sourcing regions. Australia has strong processes to manage biosecurity, pest and disease risks. Yet, potential human rights risks are not considered in this process.

Australia also has strong regulations to ensure that we prevent illegally logged timber, guns and illicit cigarettes entering the country. But, again, we lack border controls to prevent the import of goods made by child or forced labour. We have put that responsibility on individual Australian businesses under a light touch reporting regime which is the Modern Slavery Act.

Countries with similar developed economies to us apply strong measures to prevent the importation of goods made by child or forced labour. The US produces a list of goods that are high risk of child and forced labour. The US, European Union (EU), Canada, and Mexico have also introduced a ban on the import of goods made with forced labour, regardless of their origin. The EU’s ban will commence in 2027.

Australia must do more to ensure Australians that the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the goods we consume are not made off the back of people in modern slavery.