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November 23rd, 2011 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda Parents who force their adult children into marriage could be jailed under draft laws the federal government plans to bring before parliament next year.
The government today released an exposure draft of a new bill aimed at toughening Australia’s laws against forced marriage, forced labour and other slavery-like practices.
The bill will explicitly outlaw coercing, threatening or deceiving anyone – underage or adult – into a marriage they don’t want.
Until now, prosecutions have been mounted only against people for forcing minors into marriage.
Offenders – including the other party to the marriage or the victim’s parents – could face up to seven years’ jail in aggravated cases and four years’ jail in other cases.
Status of Women Minister Kate Ellis says everyone has a right to choose whether to marry and whom to marry.
“These offences will reinforce that a marriage must be entered into with the full and free consent of both parties and that forcing someone into marriage is an abuse of human rights,” Ms Ellis said.
The laws will apply both to marriages occurring within Australia and those involving Australians in other countries.
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said it was hard to put a figure on how many people were currently being forced into marriage because it was difficult to detect the crime.
“But even if it’s one or two, it’s a serious enough issue considering the impact on that person’s life for the government to pay it the necessary attention,” Mr Bowen said.
The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Slavery, Slavery like Conditions and People Trafficking) Bill 2012 will also introduce a new offence of forced labour.
It will also outlaw harbouring or receiving a victim of trafficking or slavery and improve the availability of reparations to victims.
Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor said the changes would provide the most robust and effective tools for dealing with these hidden problems.
“Information provided by law enforcement agencies shows that increasing numbers of people are being trafficked into a variety of industries, not just the sex industry,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Labour exploitation can happen in Australia, regardless of whether people have been trafficked here.”
The exposure draft will be available for public comment until January 13 next year.
The opposition welcomed the announcement but warned the laws would only be as good as the enforcement behind them.
AAP
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