Customs Amendment (Preventing Child Labour) 2023

# Customs Amendment (Preventing Child Labour) Bill 2023 ## What it does This bill stops Australian businesses from importing goods made using child labour. It creates new customs laws that define child labour and gives authorities power to block imports from companies that don't fix their supply chains when told to do so. ## Why it matters Australian consumers unknowingly buy products made by children in exploitative conditions overseas. This law aims to cut off the market for those goods and pressure companies to clean up their supply chains, making it harder for child labour to be profitable. ## Key details - **Definition**: Child labour means work by anyone under 14 (or during compulsory schooling hours, if older than 14 in their country). - **The enforcement mechanism**: If customs officials issue a notice telling a company to stop importing goods made with child labour, that company has a set timeframe to comply. If they import the same type of goods within 48 months without fixing the problem, those goods get blocked at the border. - **Timeline**: The law comes into effect 6 months after Parliament approves it, giving businesses time to adjust their practices and sourcing before enforcement kicks in.