University of Western Australia
Researchers from several universities including The University of Western Australia, and leading human rights advocates have welcomed recommendations made by an independent review of Australia’s Modern Slavery Act and have called on the Government to urgently implement tougher laws.
“We hope the Government implements the recommendations and reforms the Modern Slavery Act to tackle the scourge of modern slavery in the supply chains of Australian businesses.”
Associate Professor, Fiona McGaughey, UWA Law School
The report recommended 30 reforms to improve corporate modern slavery responses and give regulators more oversight to enforce the law.
Associate Professor, Fiona McGaughey, from UWA’s Law School, said the recommendations mirrored the findings of research into modern slavery and would address many of the gaps it uncovered in Australia’s regulation of the practice.
“We hope the Government implements the recommendations and reforms the Modern Slavery Act to tackle the scourge of modern slavery in the supply chains of Australian businesses,” Associate Professor McGaughey said.
“This would also move us closer to international standards on business and human rights.”
The three year review, led by Professor John McMillan, AO, from the Australian National University of Law, found there is no hard evidence that the Modern Slavery Act in its early years has yet caused meaningful change for people living in conditions of modern slavery.
The recommendations called for organisations to have a due diligence system in place to identify, monitor and address modern slavery risks and the introduction of penalties for businesses that fail to do so – or that fail to submit an accurate modern slavery statement.
The proposed reforms also included the establishment of new compulsory criteria to annually report on any modern slavery incidents identified.
The coalition of human rights and academic organisations have urged the Federal Government to take vital action on the key recommendations, so the newly announced establishment of an independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner has the appropriate resources and powers to carry out the Act.