Joint letter on Strengthening Australia’s Modern Slavery Act

Investors, unions, human rights groups and survivors unite on call for stronger modern slavery laws

A powerful alliance of over 100 investors, businesses, unions, civil society organisations, academics, and survivor advocates have joined forces in calling on the Federal Government to urgently strengthen Australia’s Modern Slavery Act, exactly 3 years after an independent review of the Act found it had ‘not yet caused meaningful change’ for people impacted by modern slavery.
The 105 signatories include major institutional investors and networks representing trillions in assets, alongside eight national and state unions and over 30 civil society organisations.
In a letter to the Attorney-General, a diverse group of stakeholders has urged the Albanese Government to prioritise the introduction of modern slavery due diligence requirements on large companies operating in Australia.
The proposed reforms would shift corporate efforts from focusing on reporting alone to taking action to address modern slavery.

Letter calling to strengthen Australia’s modern slavery laws

Dear Attorney-General,

We welcome the Government’s commitment to strengthening Australia’s Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) (Act), including the recent targeted consultations on due diligence requirements. As representatives of business, investors, unions, civil society, academics and survivor advocates, we recognise the importance of ensuring that the Act continues to evolve in a way that is both effective and practical.
With an estimated 50 million people in modern slavery globally, including nearly 28 million in conditions of forced labour, Australia must move beyond disclosure alone and strengthen the Act to drive meaningful action. The independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s recent position paper underscores the urgency of reform.
Many Australian businesses are already taking meaningful action to identify and address modern slavery risks to support their reporting under the Act. These include investing in due diligence systems, engaging with suppliers and building internal capability. However, uptake remains uneven. Clarifying the due diligence requirements under the Act will help level the playing field, provide certainty and ensure the Act is effective and fit for purpose.
To ensure reform is meaningful and pragmatic, we urge the Government to prioritise:

1. Alignment with key international standards, such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct.
2. A requirement to undertake risk-based due diligence, which would level the playing field and promote an effective, proportionate, and outcome-focused approach to addressing modern slavery – reflecting what many Australian businesses are already doing.

The upcoming reform is a crucial opportunity to bring clarity to entities acting in good faith, hold noncompliant entities to account, lift conditions for people trapped in forced labour, and align Australia with global standards. This will support business productivity by reducing barriers to global markets and refocusing efforts on action rather than just reporting. It is a chance for Australia to continue showing leadership in building supply chains where the people who produce our food, clothing and technology live and work in freedom and dignity.