New Zealand Parliament Advances Bill on Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences

In a significant legislative development, the New Zealand House of Representatives has unanimously passed the first reading of the Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill during its session on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. Introduced by National Party member Greg Fleming, this bill aims to align penalties for various slavery-related offences under sections 98 and 98AA of the Crimes Act.

The Debate Unfolds

The debate featured contributions from members across several parties, each acknowledging the importance of addressing slavery more effectively through legislative means.

Alignment and Consistency in Penalties

Hon Dr Duncan Webb from Labour—Christchurch Central expressed support for the bill, emphasizing its role in aligning penalties. He noted that while this alignment is a necessary step, it falls short without broader measures against modern slavery issues. Webb highlighted concerns over the government's priorities, referencing the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety's focus elsewhere.

Teanau Tuiono of the Green Party also supported the bill, underscoring its importance in ensuring consistency across penalties. He pointed out that while this is a positive move, there remains a need for more comprehensive legislation on modern slavery. Tuiono mentioned previous efforts by the former government to tackle these issues and criticized current inaction.

Government's Role and International Standards

Todd Stephenson from ACT supported the bill as essential for aligning New Zealand’s penalties with international standards, crucial for maintaining strong anti-slavery laws. He highlighted the importance of keeping up with global expectations and improving national reputation through such legislative measures.

Hon Casey Costello, Associate Minister of Immigration, discussed recent domestic prosecutions related to slavery offences. She emphasized practical steps towards consistent legislation and acknowledged ongoing work against organized crime driving these offences. Notably, since 2015, there have been four human trafficking prosecutions in New Zealand.

Criticism of Past Actions and Need for Comprehensive Legislation

James Meager from National—Rangitata supported the bill while criticizing past government actions for inadequate focus on modern slavery. He urged immediate legislative action, highlighting the importance of addressing such issues now.

Camilla Belich from Labour acknowledged that while the bill is a start, more comprehensive legislation on modern slavery is needed. She urged the Prime Minister to act on his promise to address these challenges and pointed out significant gaps in current practices. In 2021, New Zealand dropped from being a tier one nation in addressing modern slavery to a tier two nation.

Practical Steps and Future Amendments

Cameron Brewer of National—Upper Harbour supported the bill as a step forward and encouraged further strengthening through the select committee process, which will be chaired by James Meager. He expressed optimism about enhancing penalties against human trafficking.

Hon Phil Twyford from Labour—Te Atatū criticized government inaction on related issues like Gloriavale and migrant labor exploitation. He highlighted ongoing problems with definitions and enforcement of human trafficking laws, calling for more robust measures.

Conclusion: A Unified Call for Action

As the bill moves to the Justice Committee for review and potential amendments, there is a unified call from MPs across party lines for more comprehensive measures against slavery and modern-day exploitation. Greg Fleming closed the debate by acknowledging contributors to the bill and expressing enthusiasm about future efforts on modern slavery reporting.

This legislative development marks an important step in New Zealand's ongoing battle against slavery offences, reflecting both national priorities and international expectations.