Australian Immigration Daily News

The Turnbull Government has introduced legislation to reduce the risk that Australian goods and services are tainted by modern slavery.

The Modern Slavery Bill 2018 establishes a Modern Slavery Reporting Requirement that requires over 3,000 large companies and other entities to publish annual public statements on their actions to address modern slavery in their supply chains and operations.

In a world first, the Australian Government will lead by example by publishing an annual statement covering possible modern slavery risks in Commonwealth procurement.

Assistant Minister for Home Affairs Alex Hawke said the Modern Slavery Reporting Requirement will transform the way the Australian business community responds to modern slavery.

Sources: New-Legislation-to-combat-modern-slavery.PDF

and 

Modern-Slavery-Bill-2018.pdf

and

Modern-Slavery-Bill-2018-explanatory-statement.pdf

The ACTU's response:

The peak body for working people has criticised aspects of the Turnbull Government's Modern Slavery Act bill, saying the proposed law falls short in important respects. The bill lacks the necessary enforcement measures to ensure that companies investigate and act on the presence of slavery in their supply chains, because its lack of fines or any penalties turns it into a voluntary scheme by default.

It also fails to appoint an independent commissioner, which has been a key ingredient in ensuring proper monitoring takes place. Finally, the bill is silent on whether companies who have failed to investigate and take action on slavery in their supply chains will be able to bid for and receive government contracts.

Modern-Slavery-Act-falls-way-short-in-current-form.PDF