THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP
DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING
SHADOW MINISTER FOR WOMEN
MEMBER FOR SYDNEY
THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
CLARE O’NEIL MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR JUSTICE
MEMBER FOR HOTHAM
LABOR TAKING ACTION ON FORCED MARRIAGE
Today Labor committed to ground-breaking reform to tackle forced marriage alongside representatives from the Salvation Army, Anti-Slavery Australia and ACRATH Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans.
Every year, up to a thousand young Australians are at risk of forced marriage. Forced marriage can have devastating consequences, creating a structure through which subjugation, abuse and sexual assault can occur over decades.
Australia's current approach to forced marriage is not working. Under the Turnbull Government, we have not had a single successful prosecution of the forced marriage offences under the Criminal Code. Victims have limited civil protections and struggle to access Government-funded support.
A Shorten Labor Government will bring this problem into the open. If elected, Labor will introduce a new mechanism Forced Marriage Protection Orders to prevent these young Australians being forced into marriage, taken overseas or removed from school.
Labor will also make it easier for victims to access support.
Forced marriage is an abuse of human rights. A failure to adequately prevent, address and respond to this practice is a failure to protect individuals including young people and children from crime and abuse.
We are calling on the Turnbull Government to match our commitment.
FRIDAY, 8 JUNE 2018
