Dear <<First Name>>

On the eve of the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (Dec 2), the Australian Federal Government has passed into law the first Federal Modern Slavery Act. We celebrate with all the MPs and many thousands of people around the Country who have worked tirelessly to make this happen. While the legislation is not perfect - we still believe there needs to be an Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner and penalties for companies that do not comply, this is an important first step. And we are encouraged by the provision for a review of the scheme in three years. Unfortunately, you may not see much about this important event in the mainstream press, so we are pleased it is being reported by SBS.

In the last Issue of End Slavery, we reported that Grace Forrest, Co-Founder of the Walk Free Foundation, had been appointed UNAA Goodwill Ambassador for Anti-Slavery. We are therefore extremely pleased that she will be a keynote speaker at the Victorian Multi-District Rotary Conference next February. Watch the clip to hear an address from Grace to the One Young World Summit earlier this year. I am sure you will be impressed.

You can still secure your place and join Robyn and myself on the Eyes Wide Open Slavery Awareness Tour to Cambodia and Thailand next February co-hosted by RAGAS and Stop the Traffik but are encouraged to act quickly as places are filling.

This will be our final Issue for 2018, so I wish all our End Slavery readers and supporters a happy and slave-free festive season with a request to, as far as possible, shop for ethically produced Christmas gifts.