The Human Rights Law Centre will today urge the Albanese Government to strengthen the powers of its new proposed Anti-Slavery Commissioner in evidence given to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

In its submission to the Senate inquiry into the Modern Slavery Amendment (Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner) Bill 2023 (Cth), the Human Rights Law Centre welcomed the proposed new office, but said it needed greater enforcement, investigatory powers and resourcing to fulfil its mandate to more effectively tackle modern slavery.

The Centre is calling for the proposed Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s role to be expanded to explicitly include:

• monitoring and enforcing compliance with the Modern Slavery Act (including through the issuing of penalties or infringement notices);
• undertaking investigations to detect and expose cases of modern slavery; and
• receiving complaints and supporting people subjected to modern slavery to seek redress.
• the budget for the office (currently set at $8 million over 4 years) should be expanded to support the wide range of functions to be performed by the Commissioner.

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

“Every person should be able to work in freedom and dignity, without threats of violence, coercion or abuse. But we know that in Australia today, up to 41,000 people are estimated to be living and working in conditions of modern slavery. Globally, over 45 million people are subjected to modern slavery, many making clothing and products we use every day.

“The proposed new office of the Anti-Slavery Commissioner will give a much-needed boost to efforts to address forced labour within Australia and in the global supply chains of Australian companies.

“However, it is critical that the Anti-Slavery Commissioner has the necessary powers and resourcing to undertake this work effectively and drive real changes in corporate practices. This should include powers to investigate suspected cases of modern slavery, enforce penalties against companies and to support workers to take action and seek redress.”

Read the Human Rights Law Centre’s submission here

Background
The establishment of the Anti-Slavery Commissioner is the first part of the Government’s response to the 2023 independent review of the Modern Slavery Act, authored by Professor John McMillan, which last year made 30 recommendations to strengthen Australia’s modern slavery laws.

The review recommended among other changes the introduction of penalties for companies that fail to report under the law and a mandatory requirement that companies undertake human rights due diligence to identify and address modern slavery in their operations and supply chains.

Media contact:

Michelle Bennett, Engagement Director, 0419 100 519, michelle.bennett@hrlc.org.au