six months after public review - no answers
There were two key questions asked of the Minister For Foreign Trade's public servants in May 2011*:
1. Ms Burke asked Mr Kenna, Assistant Secretary, Trade Commitments Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, what options we have apart from being a member of the UN to try to end child labour. Part of his answer was:
"I think there is consideration of the extent to which a compulsory scheme would really provide an additional benefit. That is a policy question which obviously, as a result of the petition and other things, will require further consideration."
2. Ms Saffin asked Mr Kenna how we monitor if being involved in the UN actions on child labour was effective. Part of Mr Kenna's answer was
"It is an important question—the issue of how we monitor our effectiveness. This was Dr Jensen's question, too, at the beginning: how do you actually measure the impacts of our efforts? I would like to take that on notice as well, to try and provide a more concrete response to the committee on that issue."
These two answers mean that when the minister answered the petition he didn't know if the Government's current approach was being successful - and still doesn't know six months later, and didn't consider whether the option of legislated certification might work. THE MINISTER JUST DOESN'T CARE.
(* http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/commttee/r275.pdf)
Federal Petition Committee has Public Review
On 25th May 2011 the Federal Petition Committee invited Max Collison to present and be questioned on the cocoa petition for 20 minutes. Following this, three public servants from the Minister for Trade's department had the same opportunity.
The outcome of this at this stage is that the public servants have been given some questions to come back to the committee on.
19 people, mostly from St Paul's Castle Hill, went down with Max on a minibus.
Government Replies to Cocoa Petition
The Hon Dr Craig Emerson the Minister For Trade has submitted a formal reply to the petition. It was as follows:
Hansard 21st February 2011
page 7.
Dear Mr Murphy
I am responding to the letter of 25 May 2010 from the previous Chair of the Standing Committee on Petitions, Mrs Julia Irwin, to the then Minister for Trade, the Hon Simon Crean MP, conveying the petition on cocoa products involving child labour. I apologise for the delay in responding.
The Australian Government is gravely concerned about the exploitation of children, including all forms of child labour. Australia is working hard to combat such practices, including through the United Nations and the International Labour Organisation (ILPO).
As the petition notes, Australia has ratified. ILO convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour (1999). Australia has also ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and its two Optional Protocols. These treaties establish internationally recognised standards against which child protection can be measured and scrutinised globally.
The ILO has set a target of universal ratification of Convention 182 by 2016 and has redoubled its efforts to meet this deadline.
Australia will continue to encourage Member States to commit to the protection and promotion of children’s rights through the ratification of this and other international human rights instruments, including the CRC. In May 2010 Australia also participated in The Hague Global Child Labour conference which adopted a ‘Roadmap’ for eliminating the worst forms of child labour by 2016.
Through our aid program, Australia also supports the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in preventing child labour by reducing the debt burden of poor families and by providing better access to primary education for children around the world. In 2009-10 Australia contributed $19.6 million to support UNICEF’s work to protect children globally, including from child labour. This makes us the 10th largest contributor to UNICEF’s budget.
The Government supports the voluntary labelling of products by industry, confirming that imported good have been produced free from child exploitation. This helps to increase public awareness of the issue and encourages customers to make informed choices.
The Government sees the various activities undertaken through the United Nations and the ILO through the United Nations, and the ILO, as the most effective means to achieve the outcomes on child labour that we all seek.
From the Minister for Trade, Mr Emerson.
Petition Received by Petitions Committee
The petition has been hand delivered to the petitions committee. At this stage they should have their first look at it next wednesday, and the Chair of the committee should formally tell parliament of it on 24th May.
8,500 SIGNATURES!
Over 8,500 signatures to hand in with the petition! During Fairtrade fortnight Bishop Stuart Robinson will hand the petition to his Federal MP - who will then pass it on to the Petitions Committee. We'll let you know as soon as that happens.
