Appointment of Australia’s First Anti-Slavery Commissioner

Further to our previous article on modern slavery reporting, available here, the Federal Government has recently appointed Mr. Chris Evans as the inaugural Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner.

Mr. Evans has been selected following a merit-based selection process and commenced the five-year term on 2 December 2024.

Previously, Mr. Evans served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Global Freedom Network of Walk Free, an international human rights group working to end modern slavery. Mr Evans has also served as a Senator for Western Australia, and additionally served as Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, and Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research.

In a statement released on 11 November 2024, Attorney General Mark Dreyfus announced that:

“The Anti-Slavery Commissioner will further strengthen the work undertaken across government, business and civil society to prevent and respond to modern slavery by supporting victims and survivors, raising community awareness and helping business address the risk of modern slavery practices in their operations and supply chains.”

It is anticipated that the Anti-Slavery Commissioner will play a key role in shaping the implementation of future modern slavery reforms, particularly those arising from the statutory review of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth).

What employers need to know

Employers can expect the office of the Anti-Slavery Commissioner to provide guidance on best practices for identifying and addressing modern slavery risks in their operations and supply chains. This could include advice on compliance with reporting requirements under the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth), as well as recommendations for improving transparency and accountability.

Mr. Evans’ role will also involve liaising with businesses to ensure they are effectively implementing the necessary policies and measures to prevent slavery-related practices and provide support to victims. The appointment of Mr. Evans signals a continued commitment by the Federal Government to combat modern slavery, and employers should stay informed of any new developments or obligations that may arise as a result.

Although the Anti-Slavery Commissioner does not have statutory enforcement powers at this stage, we anticipate this may be on the horizon and therefore recommend all reporting entities ensure their modern slavery statements continue to be reported within the required timeframes to ensure compliance with ongoing obligations.

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Authored by:
Louise Rumble, Partner
Nakita Rose, Associate
Isabella Kiparizov, Lawyer