"New Anti-Slavery Commissioner welcome"

Civil society groups have welcomed the Albanese Government’s appointment of Australia’s first national, independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. Chris Evans, a former Labor Minister, has previously served as CEO of the Global Freedom Network of Walk Free, working with faith leaders to end modern slavery.

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Keren Adams, Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Centre:

"We welcome the appointment of Commissioner Evans and look forward to working with his office to tackle the entrenched issues of modern slavery in the supply chains of Australian companies.  

“As the recent findings of the modern slavery risks faced by PALM and other temporary migrant workers in the Australian agricultural sector demonstrate, there is an urgent need to step up Australia’s efforts in this area. We urge the Albanese Government to ensure that the new Anti-Slavery Commissioner has the powers and resourcing needed to drive real changes to corporate practices.”   

Professor Justine Nolan, Director, Australian Human Rights Institute:

“Australia is now at a critical juncture in its path to tackling modern slavery. A well-resourced Anti-Slavery Commissioner will need to be a key part of the government’s future strategy if we are to show the world we are serious about helping end this scourge.” 

Carolyn Kitto, Co-Director, Be Slavery Free:

“In 2018 we boasted that we were leading the world in our actions on modern slavery, and we were. We can no longer make that claim. It is one thing to have legislation and a new Commissioner; it is another thing to actually decide to adequately fund this role and the law’s implementation. Meanwhile Australian businesses continue to compete on a playing field which rewards those who have practices such as forced, bonded and child labour in their supply chains.” 

Ramila Chanisheff, President, Australian Uyghur Tangritagh Women's Association:

"Without an Anti-Slavery Commissioner who will be able to enforce tangible legislation and actions to hold industries to account, Uyghurs will continue to be enslaved in products made or supplied by China. Uyghurs are facing horrific human rights abuses, and the Australian Government needs to start taking meaningful action to ensure we are not complicit in modern-day slavery." 

Amy Sinclair, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Senior Representative, Business and Human Rights Resource Centre: 

“Today’s appointment has been a long time coming and stakeholder expectations are high. Appropriate funding and independence will be critical elements of this new office if the Anti-Slavery Commissioner is to deal effectively with the complex drivers and impacts of modern slavery in Australia.”