This member's bill amends the Crimes Act 1961 to increase the maximum prison term and fine for slavery offences. It is before Parliament.
A member's bill that would raise the maximum penalties for slavery-related offences in the Crimes Act so they line up with the tougher penalties already set for human trafficking. In practice it would lift the maximum prison term for offences such as dealing in slaves and the sexual exploitation or forced labour of children. It is meant to remove an inconsistency where some serious exploitation offences carry lighter penalties than trafficking does.
The bill is in the name of National MP Greg Fleming, and grew out of research by two Rolleston College students who identified the gap. It would raise the maximum term for dealing in slaves and for the trafficking-related exploitation of minors from 14 to 20 years' imprisonment. Anti-slavery groups such as World Vision support tougher penalties while arguing broader modern-slavery reform is also needed.
See the Parliament.nz ↗ site for the full bill.