The Australian Attorney-General has announced that the Government will strengthen Australia’s modern slavery laws with a new criminal offence where companies with an annual consolidated revenue over $100 million fail to prevent modern slavery in their supply chains.

This offence will be in addition to current reporting obligations.

There will be a defence available if a company can demonstrate that they took reasonable steps to prevent modern slavery.
The Government also intends to introduce civil penalties and associated enforcement powers to address non-compliance with existing obligations under the Modern Slavery Act.

Background.

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Author: David Jacobson
Principal, Bright Corporate Law
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About David Jacobson
The information contained in this article is not legal advice. It is not to be relied upon as a full statement of the law. You should seek professional advice for your specific needs and circumstances before acting or relying on any of the content.