Modern Slavery Laws in Australia: Steps in the Right Direction?

Abstract

This piece will first provide an overview of the NSW Modern Slavery Act 2018 (NSW Act), followed by a discussion of the Federal Act. Some comparisons will be made between these Australian laws and the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 (UK Act). Such a comparison should be useful for determining the relative impact, and value, of these laws over time, as well as for influencing the framing of future legislation elsewhere. The piece will conclude by considering elements that could be incorporated to enhance the efficacy of modern slavery laws generally.