Advocating for strong laws to end modern slavery
The Human Rights Law Centre is calling on the Albanese Government to strengthen our modern slavery laws and for strong, independent oversight through a new Anti-Slavery Commissioner.
No one should be threatened with violence, coerced, or abused at work. Australia’s weak modern slavery laws are allowing businesses to profit from abuse.
In Australia today, up to 41,000 people are estimated to be living and working in conditions of modern slavery. Globally, over 50 million people are subjected to modern slavery, with many making the clothing and products we use every day.
The Human Rights Law Centre is advocating for an end to this abuse.
This week, we are in Canberra calling on the Albanese Government to strengthen our modern slavery laws. We want to see requirements on companies to take action to address modern slavery, and penalties for those that do not. We want strong, independent oversight through a new Anti-Slavery Commissioner.
Legislation to establish the new Commissioner is currently before the parliament. But it doesn’t go far enough. To address modern slavery, the Commissioner must have the powers and resourcing to drive real changes in corporate practices, including undertaking investigations, issuing penalties and supporting workers to seek redress.
We will call on the Albanese Government to do more to stamp out abuse and end modern slavery in the supply chains of Australian companies.
What issue unites Coalition, Labor, Green, teal and One Nation voters? Whistleblower protections
The Albanese Government’s persecution of whistleblowers Richard Boyle and David McBride is unjust, and the public doesn’t support it. It’s time for much-needed reform.
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We’re fighting Tasmania’s parole board gag on free speech
We have filed legal proceedings on behalf of Tasmanian grandmother, Susan Neill-Fraser. Her case challenges a restrictive parole condition placed on her by the Parole Board of Tasmania which limits her ability to speak to the media.
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Universities must stop restricting protests and surveilling staff and students
The Human Rights Law Centre is urging the University of Melbourne to abandon new policy changes that severely restrict protest rights and allow widespread surveillance of students and staff through the universities’ wifi network.
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Acknowledgement of Country
The Human Rights Law Centre acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands across Australia, including the lands of the Wurundjeri, Boon Wurrung, Gadigal, Ngunnawal, Cammeraygal, Darug, Wadawurrung, Turrbal and Jagera people where we work from.
We pay our respect to Elders past and present. This land always was, and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land. Sovereignty has never been ceded.
WARNING: This site contains images or names of people who have passed away.