Australia's Earnest Approach Toward Resolving its Contemporary Slavery Dilemma?
Australia's fight against modern slavery is evolving, with a growing emphasis on domestic responses and legislative reforms. The Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) is at the forefront of these efforts, aiming to strengthen transparency, enforcement, and accountability within the country.
The Australian Government has recently agreed to several recommendations aimed at strengthening the Act, including clarifying mandatory reporting criteria, introducing new enforcement powers, streamlining reporting processes, and requiring entities to undertake greater due diligence in their operations and supply chains within Australia [1][3][5].
One of the key initiatives is the expansion of the Act’s scope to cover risks present within Australian operations and domestic supply chains, encouraging companies to identify and remediate modern slavery issues in domestic contexts [1]. The government is also engaging in consultations and collaborations with business, civil society, and NGOs to develop clearer guidance and systems for monitoring, reporting, and enforcement within Australia [1][3][5].
However, critics argue that while these advances are significant, enforcement and active prevention measures domestically still need strengthening beyond reporting obligations [2]. For instance, Australian law currently does not impose an explicit prohibition on goods made with forced labor entering Australia, nor does it require companies to actively prevent modern slavery—only to report risks [2].
The textile, clothing, and footwear (TCF) sector is a particular area of concern. Workers in this sector exhibit significant indicators of vulnerability to workplace exploitation, abuse, and immobility [2]. Many TCF workers are female, over 55, and from a migrant and non-English speaking background. They work off the books and are often injured on the job at three times the rate of factory workers [2].
In the 2023-24 financial year, tip-offs to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) regarding modern slavery reached an all-time high of 382, with human trafficking, forced marriage, forced labor, and sexual exploitation being the top reported forms [6].
Despite these challenges, there are encouraging signs. Some companies are setting examples by mapping out their extended supply chains with specific information about suppliers up to Tier 5 [4]. Australian companies like Costa Group maintain internal Modern Slavery Working Groups that review and manage risks related to modern slavery in their domestic operations [4].
Peer support is also proving crucial for survivors of modern slavery. Survivor Connections, an organisation founded in 2023 by modern slavery survivors, provides peer support and helps survivors transition to an autonomous life by providing guidance with necessities such as housing, employment, medical care, and legal assistance [7].
However, more needs to be done. Survivors like Moe Turaga, a modern slavery survivor lured to Australia from Fiji with a promise of a job picking fruit, emphasise the importance of including the perspective of modern slavery survivors in the fight against modern slavery [8].
In conclusion, while much attention has historically focused on overseas supply chains, Australia’s domestic response centers on legislative reform of the Modern Slavery Act to mandate stronger identification, prevention, and remediation actions within the country, supported by enhanced compliance mechanisms and stakeholder collaboration [1][3][5]. However, critics argue that enforcement and active prevention measures domestically still need significant strengthening beyond reporting obligations [2].
- To further enhance the Modern Slavery Act in Australia, it's crucial to consider revising the privacy policy of financial services to ensure transparency in reporting potential modern slavery risks within domestic operations and supply chains.
- In the pursuit of education-and-self-development, it is essential for individuals to be aware of their choices in financial services and to choose entities that prioritize due diligence in preventing modern slavery in their operations and supply chains, as part of their commitment to social responsibility.
