Australia’s Anti-Slavery Commissioner Chris Evans has welcomed a fresh round of public consultations aimed at strengthening the Modern Slavery Act 2018, saying the reforms are overdue and must go beyond improving reporting.
The Attorney-General’s Department has released a Consultation Paper setting out potential changes to the Act’s mandatory reporting framework for large entities. The paper outlines proposals to streamline and enhance reporting requirements while targeting businesses that fail to comply.
According to the Commissioner, this process marks a vital opportunity for stakeholders to influence the next stage of reform. Updating reporting standards and introducing penalties for non-compliance could lift the quality of disclosures and increase accountability. Yet Evans argues that meaningful progress will only come if the law moves past transparency alone.
Consultations to explore due diligence and high-risk declarations
The Government plans to launch further targeted consultations on introducing mandatory due diligence and creating high-risk declarations. Evans says these steps would align Australia with leading international practice and could directly improve the lives of those trapped in conditions such as forced labour or debt bondage.
“Improving reporting alone will not drive meaningful impact,” says Evans. “Australians want to know that the workers who make the goods and deliver the services we rely on are living and working in freedom and dignity. The Modern Slavery Act has raised awareness, but reforms to encourage more impactful action are long overdue.”
Since beginning his role earlier this year, Evans has held extensive consultations with businesses, advocacy groups and community leaders. He says there is broad agreement on the need for stronger measures that go beyond compliance box-ticking and lead to concrete improvements in supply chains.
The current Act, introduced in 2018, requires large companies to publish annual statements outlining the risks of modern slavery in their operations and the steps taken to address them. While this has shed light on the problem, critics argue that many statements are too general and lack evidence of real change. Introducing due diligence obligations could require companies to actively investigate and address risks rather than simply disclose them.
The Consultation Paper and submission guidelines are available on the Attorney-General’s Department Consultation Hub. Submissions close Monday 1 September. Evans is urging businesses, civil society and the wider public to contribute, saying the outcome will help shape the country’s response to one of the most pressing human rights issues of our time.
The Consultation Paper and information on how to make a submission is available on the AGD Consultation hub. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit to the Government’s consultation by Monday, 1 September
