"Investors, unions, human rights groups and survivors unite on call for stronger modern slavery laws", 25 May 2026

Australia’s Modern Slavery Act is under renewed scrutiny as investors, unions, survivor advocates and civil society groups call for stronger legislation to improve corporate accountability and protect people from exploitation…

The 105 signatories include major institutional investors and networks representing trillions in assets, alongside 8 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…

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…

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…

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…