Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05CANBERRA1399
2005-08-16 21:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:  

REVISED CHILD LABOR REPORT ON AUSTRALIA

Tags:  PGOV ELAB KTDB AS 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 001399 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR DRL/IL LAUREN HOLT
LABOR FOR DOL/ILAB TINA MCCARTER

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ELAB KTDB AS
SUBJECT: REVISED CHILD LABOR REPORT ON AUSTRALIA

REF: STATE 143552

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 001399

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR DRL/IL LAUREN HOLT
LABOR FOR DOL/ILAB TINA MCCARTER

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ELAB KTDB AS
SUBJECT: REVISED CHILD LABOR REPORT ON AUSTRALIA

REF: STATE 143552

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.


1. Per reftel, we raised child labor issues with the
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) on
August 11 and 16, and with the domestic NGO Child Wise and
the Australian Council of Trade Unions on August 12. Our
Australian counterparts responded that they shared U.S.
concerns about the worst forms of child labor, but none of
them was aware of such practices occurring in any of the
Australian territories that are eligible for benefits under
the GSP program.


2. DEWR International Relations Director Scott Evans
provided us with additional information on Commonwealth laws
and legal coverage regulating child employment practices in
the territories. The bullet points below comprise our
revised submission on the laws governing child labor in each
of Australia's four GSP-eligible territories: Christmas
Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Heard and McDonald Islands
and Norfolk Island.

-- Christmas Island (Australian territory). The
Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services
administers Christmas Island on behalf of the Federal
Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads. Both
Federal and Western Australian (W.A.) criminal laws, which
are enforced by the Australian Federal Police, apply to
Christmas Island. W.A. schooling and child protection laws
apply on the islands, and are available online at:
http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/statutes/swans.nsf. The GOA
legislation is available online at:
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol _act/.

Statistics on the number of working children under the age
of 15 on Christmas Island are unavailable. W.A. State child
welfare laws apply to Christmas Island. The law prohibits
the employment of children aged less than 15 years during
school hours and between 9:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. [W.A. Child
Welfare Act 1947 s.107]. Education is free and compulsory
between the ages of six and 15 [W.A. Schools Education Act
1999, section 6 definitions]. Causing, permitting or
seeking to induce a child under the age of 18 years to act
as a prostitute or participate in pornographic performances
is prohibited under W.A. law [W.A. Prostitutes Act 2000

section 16 and W.A. Child Welfare Act 1947 section 108].
Slavery and sexual servitude are also prohibited and
punishable under Federal law [Criminal Code section 270].

-- Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australian territory). The
Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services
administers Cocos (Keeling) Islands on behalf of the Federal
Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads. Both
Federal and Western Australian (W.A.) criminal laws, which
are enforced by the Australian Federal Police, apply to
Cocos (Keeling) Islands. See section above on Christmas
Island for reference to schooling and child protection laws
applying to Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and for reference to
relevant Federal Government criminal laws.

Statistics on the number of working children under the age
of 15 on Cocos (Keeling) Islands are unavailable. W.A.
State child welfare laws apply to Cocos (Keeling) Island.
The law prohibits the employment of children aged less than
15 years during school hours and between 9:30 p.m. to 6:00
a.m. [W.A. Child Welfare Act 1947 s.107]. Education is free
and compulsory between the ages of six and 15 [W.A. Schools
Education Act 1999, section 6 definitions]. Causing,
permitting or seeking to induce a child under the age of 18
years to act as a prostitute or participate in pornographic
performances is prohibited under W.A. law [W.A. Prostitutes
Act 2000 section 16 and W.A. Child Welfare Act 1947 section
108]. Slavery and sexual servitude are also prohibited and
punishable under Federal law [Criminal Code section 270].

-- Norfolk Island (Self-Governing Australian territory).
Norfolk Island is a self-governing territory that shares
legislative power with the Commonwealth Government. The
Island's Government and Legislative Assembly retain certain
legislative and executive powers, including education and
labor relations. Norfolk Island laws are available online
at: http://www.info.gov.nf/legislation/Consolidat edActs.
Statistics on the number of working children under the age
of 15 on Norfolk Island are unavailable. Norfolk Island law
prohibits the employment of children under the age of 15
years during school hours and between the hours of 11:00
p.m. and 6:00 a.m. [Norfolk Island's Employment Act 1988
Section 24. Employment of persons under the age of 15
years]. Education is free and compulsory between the ages
of five and 15 [Norfolk Island Education Act 1931,
http://www.norfolk.gov.nf/]. Slavery and sexual servitude
are also prohibited and punishable under Australian Federal
law [Criminal Code section 270].
-- Heard and McDonald Islands (Australian territory).
Heard and McDonald Islands are uninhabited sub-Antarctic
islands managed by the Government of Australia's Antarctic
Division. There are no children resident on Heard and
McDonald Islands.
STANTON