In Australia, the Prime Minister has said (and later apologised for saying) that there was no slavery in Australia. A former leader of the same party tweeted in support, saying that slavery hadn't happened here becuse blackbirding started in 1863, and slavery was abolished in 1833 in the British Empire.

Blaclbirding has always seemed like slavery to me, but is he technically correct?

His response also ignores the forced labour of indigenous people in Australia, so is there an out here as well?