18 November 2022

[...]

A coalition of human rights organisations and academics have called on the federal government to overhaul its modern slavery laws, by:

• requiring companies to undertake due diligence to prevent and address modern slavery in their operations and supply chains;
• introducing penalties for companies that fail to comply with the Act;
• ensuring appropriate oversight and enforcement of the Act by appointing an independent anti-slavery commissioner.

[...]

Amy Sinclair, regional representative for the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, said:

The Modern Slavery Act has failed to instigate a ‘race to the top’ by companies wanting to confront modern slavery, more of a slow crawl.
These results should be viewed against a backdrop of growing inequality and exploitation of workers as the cost of living crisis bites ever harder.
Our research has revealed the Act to be an incomplete and inadequate strategy for confronting exploitation and addressing the egregious human rights abuse of modern slavery.

[...]