KM's Cooke adds voice to anti-slavery chorus

Dr David Cooke, Managing Director Konica Minolta, has joined a group of business and religious leaders calling on the Turnbull government to pass laws against slavery-like conditions in Australia's trading partners.

In an open letter as part of the UN's International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 2016, the Australian Freedom Network (AFN) asked the federal government to expand on laws it introduced in May to curb worker exploitation. "We believe it is vital that Australian governments and businesses take all reasonable steps to ensure their procurement activities ensure the people producing the goods or services have decent jobs and are free from forced labour or human trafficking," said James Condon, Chair, Australian Freedom Network.

In their statement, the AFN defined modern slavery as "the ancient forms of slavery itself, human trafficking, forced labour, debt bondage, organ trafficking, forced or servile marriage, and the sale of and exploitation of girls, boys, women and men".

David Cooke, who has recently had his managing director contract at Konica Minolta renewed for the third time, was among Australian business leaders who supported the AFN's call to action, pointing to similar legislation on the books in Britain as a model for fighting modern slavery. "The UK Modern Slavery Act has demonstrated the power of legislation to bring one of the major social issues of our time into prominence and galvanise opposition to this form of human rights abuse. The Federal Government must look seriously at following its UK counterpart.

"I believe every business should take responsibility for ensuring their supply chain is free of modern slavery and other forms of human rights abuse," said Cooke.

The campaign also counts mining magnate Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest of Fortescue Metals among its supporters.