Strengthening Australia’s response to modern slavery in supply chains

Overview

On 16 July 2026, the Australian Government announced its intention to further strengthen Australia’s modern slavery laws, including by introducing a new criminal offence for the failure to prevent modern slavery. This consultation will inform the details of the proposed offence and enforcement options, including the possible introduction of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) scheme for relevant modern slavery offences and remedies for victims.

The proposed reforms aim to enhance corporate accountability for preventing modern slavery in supply chains, improve protections for workers vulnerable to exploitation, and create a level playing field for businesses that are already taking meaningful action to identify, manage and address modern slavery risks.

The government is seeking feedback to help ensure any reforms are practical, effective and proportionate, while supporting meaningful action to identify, prevent and address modern slavery risks.

Why we are consulting

We are seeking stakeholder views on the key components of the proposed failure to prevent modern slavery offence, including its scope, application and defence. We also invite views on whether a DPA scheme could be introduced alongside a failure to prevent offence, and on possible avenues through which victims and survivors may pursue civil remedies in connection to the proposed criminal offence.

Feedback from this consultation will help inform the design of these reforms and will inform the government’s consideration of future measures to strengthen Australia’s response to modern slavery.

• Strengthening Australia’s response to modern slavery in supply chains [PDF 1.54MB]
• Strengthening Australia’s response to modern slavery in supply chains [DOCX 1.6MB]

Who we want to hear from

We welcome submissions from all interested stakeholders and members of the public. We encourage contributions from:

• reporting entities under the Modern Slavery Act (including entities who voluntarily report)
• peak industry bodies
• legal organisations and practitioners
• academics
• business and human rights experts
• criminal law experts
• civil society organisations
• individuals with lived experience of modern slavery
• advocacy groups
• unions.

How to share your views

Follow the ‘Have your say’ link at the bottom of this page to respond to the consultation questions in an online survey format. You do not have to address all the questions.

If you are experiencing any difficulty providing a submission, email slavery.reform@ag.gov.au.

Privacy and information management

To support your participation in this consultation, we will collect some of your personal information. The privacy and security of your personal information is important to us and is protected by law. The Collection Notice, available below, outlines how we will collect your personal information, how it will be used and who it may be disclosed to. By participating in the consultation, you are indicating you have read and agree to the Collection Notice.

• Privacy Collection Notice and Consent Form [PDF]
• Privacy Collection Notice and Consent Form [DOCX]

Publishing submissions

You can submit your feedback under your name or anonymously. We intend to publish responses at the conclusion of the consultation period on our consultation hub. There will be a consent question to confirm whether you agree to your response being made public and whether you approve of your name or organisation being published. Submitting your response through the survey helps us publish responses in a way that all users can access.

If you would like part of your feedback to remain in confidence, please provide the confidential information separately and clearly indicate the information you would like to remain confidential. Please refrain from including personal information about other individuals in the body of your submission. Legal requirements, such as those imposed by the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth), may affect the confidentiality of your submission.

This consultation collects your personal information (unless you submit anonymously). This is so we can contact you if we need to clarify aspects of your response, to confirm your consent to publish information in your response, or to seek feedback.

Help and support

Help is available for any person experiencing or at risk of modern slavery.

If you have immediate concerns for your safety, the safety of another person, or there is an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).

You can contact the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on 131 237 (131 AFP) or go to the AFP website for help. The AFP can keep you safe, provide advice and refer you to other services that provide accommodation, financial support, counselling, and legal and immigration advice.

The Salvation Army and specialist partner organisations can provide free and confidential support to:

• help you understand your rights and options
• offer free legal advice about your experience of modern slavery
• help with your immediate needs
• refer you to the Support for Trafficked People Program if eligible.

Find out more about the Salvation Army’s Additional Referral Pathway or call 1800 000 277 for more information.

Anti-Slavery Australia provides free, confidential legal and migration services to people who have experienced or are at risk of modern slavery in Australia. If you have experienced modern slavery, or you are worried about someone in this situation, contact Anti-Slavery Australia for free and confidential legal advice and support. Call (02) 9514 8115 (9 am to 5 pm AEST, Monday to Friday), or email asalegal@uts.edu.au.

If you are in or at risk of forced marriage, the Forced Marriage Specialist Support Program, delivered by Life Without Barriers, provides individualised needs‑based support. Call 1800 403 213 or visit the Life Without Barriers website.

You can also contact My Blue Sky, Australia’s national forced marriage service, for support and free, confidential legal advice:

• Call (02) 9514 8115 (9 am to 5 pm AEST, Monday to Friday)
• Text +61 481 070 844
• Email help@mybluesky.org.au
• Visit the My Blue Sky website.

Free interpreter services are available to help any person communicate with service providers in their own language. Call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. All calls are free and confidential.