Modern Slavery Regime

Question

Senator CANAVAN: Okay. Well, you've taken it on notice-thank you. Have we launched any investigations into the potential use of forced labour in solar-panel construction? Mr Mina: Once again, this would be a matter for the Attorney-General's Department. Senator CANAVAN: But surely you'd know that, given you have made submissions to the USTR on this very issue. I would have hoped your submissions, your investigations, covered an issue of this-it's pretty prominent. Sorry-Mr Fox? Mr Fox: My division covers the role of the Ambassador to Counter Modern Slavery, People Smuggling and Human Trafficking. In relation to the issue of Uighurs, I'm aware that the Australian Border Force have undertaken data analysis that indicates that Australia's imports from companies in what's called the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act are statistically negligible and that the likelihood of Australia's exports containing imported intermediate inputs made using forced labour is negligible. I'm happy to take further detail on notice, but I would note that the Attorney-General's Department is the lead policy department, and data sourced by the Australian Border Force-I think the home affairs department or portfolio are better placed to answer.