Australia’s comprehensive legal and policy frameworks to respond to modern slavery include:
- modern slavery offences with penalties of up to 25 years in jail, and specific protections for victims and witnesses giving evidence in court
- workplace laws that ensure all people working in Australia have the same minimum workplace rights and protections, regardless of their citizenship or visa status
- migration laws that protect migrant workers from workplace exploitation and enable people who have experienced modern slavery to remain lawfully in Australia to receive support
- a supply chain transparency law that means certain businesses must report on their efforts to identify and address modern slavery risks in their global supply chains and operations
- strategies and plans to address modern slavery, including dedicated strategies for policing and international engagement on modern slavery.
Australia’s laws and policies to address modern slavery
Criminal Code
Divisions 270 and 271 of the Criminal Code (Cth) contain offences relating to human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices. These are Australia’s main criminal laws against modern slavery.
Modern Slavery Act
Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) is a transparency framework. It requires certain large businesses operating in Australia to describe the risks of modern slavery in their global supply chains and operations and their actions to address them.
Legal protections
As well as robust criminal laws and the Modern Slavery Act, Australia has a range of legal protections to prevent and deter modern slavery and to support people who have experienced modern slavery. These include:
- protections for victims and witnesses giving evidence in court
- protections under migration, workplace and marriage laws
- the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth), to deter profit-motivated crime, including modern slavery offences, and fund anti-crime initiatives.
Strategies and plans
Australia’s response to modern slavery is underpinned by its National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery 2020–25. Other key plans include the Australian Federal Police’s Human Trafficking and Slavery Strategic Plan 2023–2026 (law enforcement) and Australia's International Engagement Strategy on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery: Delivering in Partnership (international engagement).