Watch: National and Labour MPs team up to get slavery bill heard after ACT objects

National and Labour are joining forces to get modern slavery legislation into Parliament, using a new process to skip the biscuit tin for the first time. The MPs backing it say the process was needed because the ACT Party and its Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden refused support. National's Greg Fleming and Labour's Camilla Belich have agreed to co-sponsor the bill. The bill strengthens reporting to Parliament, brings in public naming and potential liability for directors and senior managers, along with fines up to $200,000 for companies that failed to report on modern slavery, or which made false or misleading statements. "Large companies will have to report on modern slavery that they find in their supply chain, that they have to report that to a registrar that keeps those reports - it provides for ministerial oversight and it also provides greater support and focus for victims," Belich said. This would apply to all companies operating in New Zealand making more than $100 million a year. It would also introduce civil penalties of up to $600,000, give the Human Rights Commission a formal role and create a public register of reports. A capacity for future reviews would include the potential for establishment of an anti-slavery commissioner. Photo: Samuel Rillstone / RNZ The move marks the first time Parliament has used a new rule allowing a bipartisan majority to have a member's bill progress without being pulled from the 'biscuit tin' ballot. In a statement, Fleming said the issue of modern slavery was close to his heart and he had been working on the legislation since coming to Parliament. "It's time that New Zealand has a coordinated framework to deal with modern slavery, and this bill does just that," he said. Belich said the legislation would also bring New Zealand into line with partners like the United Kingdom and European Union. "Workers in New Zealand and around the world should never face the horrors of modern slavery. It's time New Zealand stood with other countries and acted," she said. "When we signed free trade agreements with these partners, we said we would act on modern slavery, and through this joint Bill we are keeping that promise. I'm proud that both sides of the House have come together to stand against exploitation, and grateful to the advocates, organisations and businesses who have pushed for this change." Parliament's internal rules - called standing orders - were updated as part of a 2020 review with a new process enabling the automatic introduction of a member's bill if it gets formal expressions of support from at least 61 non-executive MPs - those who are not ministers or Parliamentary under-secretaries. The bill was lodged Thursday morning, and with that rule - standing order 288 - invoked, it will be introduced to Parliament on the next sitting day, 10 February. The MPs said with "member's days" every second sitting Wednesday, they hoped to have the bill passed before the election on 7 November. They said there would be no transition time, so companies would need to get up to speed on reporting requirements before the law received royal assent. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone ACT minister refused to support in Cabinet Van Velden had previously said modern slavery legislation was not a priority for her, and the government in May 2024 disbanded a leadership group that had been set up to provide advice on developing such a law. "Not a priority for her, certainly a priority for National," Fleming said. "For the legislation to get through Cabinet it obviously needed the full support of Cabinet, and ACT weren't supportive of it, which is why Camilla and I have worked through this route." He said it would be for ACT to explain the party's opposition to the bill, but it had something to do with business regulation. Asked how it felt to have a workplace relations minister that did not support modern slavery laws, Fleming said ACT might see the merit in the law before it passed. "That's how coalitions work," he said. "I mean, I understand their critique of it - I don't agree with it. I'm in full support of this legislation." Belich said ACT had already shown a "complete disregard for workers' rights". "From Labour's perspective, it's not surprising to see they've failed to stand up for workers not only in New Zealand but that are being exploited worldwide. That's the reality - we found a way to move past the fact that particular political party is not willing to take steps to stop modern slavery." Fleming said there were "different views" on it and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was particularly supportive. Luxon in 2022 - the year after being installed as National leader - told RNZ's Guyon Espiner the topic was what he would have marched in the streets for. His daughter had visited children in the Philippines who had been rescued from trafficking, and he had joined Tearfund, a charity which tackled the problem. In a statement, van Velden...

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