Australia Modern Slavery Act

The Australian Modern Slavery Act 2018 requires entities with annual consolidated revenue over AUD 100 million that carry on business in Australia to report annually on modern slavery risks in their operations and supply chains. The law is broadly similar to the UK Modern Slavery Act in requiring transparency statements rather than active due diligence, and has attracted similar criticism for producing compliance that is more procedural than substantive.

An independent review of the Act published in 2023 recommended significant reforms, including the introduction of mandatory due diligence obligations, a due diligence standard aligned with the UN Guiding Principles, enforcement penalties for non-compliance, and the lowering of the revenue threshold to capture more companies. As of mid-2026, the government is considering which recommendations to implement.

For suppliers in the Pacific region and South and Southeast Asia, the proposed reforms would substantially increase the compliance burden on Australian buyers and translate into meaningful due diligence activity across their supply chains. The timing of any reforms, however, remains uncertain.