Australia’s appointment of an Anti-Slavery Commissioner marks progress toward the urgent work needed to end exploitation.

Former WA Labor senator and minister Chris Evans will lead the Federal Government’s work to eradicate modern slavery and worker exploitation.

Mr Evans worked with Walk Free for 4 years after leaving politics at the 2013 election, leading our strategic engagement and as a director of our faith-based initiative, the Global Freedom Network

An estimated 41,000 people live in modern slavery within Australia, according to Walk Free’s Global Slavery Index.

The country imports over AU$25 billion worth of goods that may be at risk of being produced with forced labour each year.

This alarming figure underlines the pressing need for stronger legislative and enforcement measures.

Once considered a strong model, Australia’s Modern Slavery Act now risks trailing behind global standards.

The Act only requires companies to report anti-slavery efforts, without mandating concrete actions to prevent exploitation in supply chains.

This reporting framework has proven inadequate for driving corporate accountability, highlighting the need for reform.

With other countries adopting stricter human rights due diligence laws, Australian businesses will likely face growing pressure from international stakeholders.

Incoming legislation in Europe is set to enforce stringent supply chain checks to uphold human rights.

This is a standard that Australian companies must soon meet if they wish to remain competitive in global markets.

While other countries support their businesses through this transition, Australia risks falling behind in policy and practice.

The situation becomes even more urgent with our allies moving to ban goods made with forced labour outright.

Without similar measures, Australia could become a haven for products tainted by exploitation.

The nation must respond proactively to avoid becoming a place for goods that violate fundamental human rights.

Efforts to combat forced marriage, another form of modern slavery, face challenges as they are divided between federal and state/territory jurisdictions.

This fragmentation leaves many survivors without coordinated support and protection.
A nationwide approach is necessary to bridge these gaps and offer meaningful assistance.

As Australia prepares for reform, the lived experiences of survivors must be central to shaping policy.

Their insights are crucial for supporting survivors and shaping an effective reform agenda.

Walk Free looks forward to supporting Mr Evans in this critical role to strengthen the government’s response to eradicating modern slavery in Australia.