Trump tariff Australia: Anti-slavery chief blasts Albanese government amid Donald Trump fallout
The Sydney Morning Herald logo
Australia’s anti-slavery watchdog has warned that the Albanese government’s proposed crackdown on forced labour does not go far enough, demanding new laws forcing major companies to stamp out exploitation in their supply chains as the nation battles punitive US tariffs over its record on modern slavery.
Australian anti-slavery commissioner Chris Evans says companies should be legally required to identify and address forced labour risks, warning Labor’s proposed criminal penalties would catch only a fraction of offenders while allowing exploitation to continue.
His intervention comes as Australia faces a 12.5 per cent tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump, whose administration has accused dozens of trading partners of failing to adequately prevent goods produced through forced labour from entering their markets.
In a paper released on Thursday, Evans warned that Australia was importing an estimated $US17.4 billion ($25 billion) worth of goods annually at risk of being produced through forced labour, despite laws requiring big businesses to disclose potential exploitation.
Under the Modern Slavery Act, introduced in 2018, large companies must report risks within their operations and supply chains, but face no legal obligation to actually address them.
Evans wants that loophole closed under the federal government’s planned overhaul of the laws.
“The government’s announcement sends a clear signal that modern slavery is a serious crime and must be treated that way,” he said. “But criminal prosecutions are challenging and resource-intensive, and will reach only a small number of cases. To change how business operates every day, we also need a clear legal obligation on large companies to take reasonable steps to find and fix modern slavery risks.”
Labor announced in July it would introduce a criminal offence for companies that fail to prevent modern slavery, alongside civil penalties for businesses breaching existing reporting requirements.
But Evans argues criminal sanctions alone will not deliver meaningful change.
His proposed four-part overhaul would impose mandatory due-diligence obligations on large businesses and the federal government, establish criminal penalties for serious wrongdoing, and give victims the right to sue for compensation.
Companies would also face stronger annual reporting requirements tied to their legal obligations to tackle exploitation.
That move has raised the ire of the business community, with Minerals Council of Australia chief Tania Constable claiming there were better ways to address the issue than threatening business executives with criminal penalties over the actions of other companies.
The Business Council of Australia has also raised concerns about the proposed criminal penalties for modern slavery in supply chains.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attempted to convince Trump to abandon tariffs imposed on Australian exports in July over alleged failures to combat forced labour. Evans at the time accused the Trump administration of weaponising important human rights issues to fulfil its own domestic agenda.
During an August telephone conversation, Albanese urged Trump to “consider a full exemption” from the 12.5 per cent tariff, or at least restore the previous 10 per cent rate. Trump agreed to consider the request, and Australia has rejected the justification for the tariffs.
Evans warned Australian exporters would face increasing scrutiny as major trading partners tightened their own rules.
“A clear national framework, aligned with international standards, will help Australian businesses stay competitive and keep their access to international markets. It also means responsible businesses are no longer undercut by those that turn a blind eye.”
The former Labor immigration minister said consumers also expected decisive action.
“Australians don’t want the clothes they wear or the food they eat to be made with forced labour. They expect government and business to take responsibility and action.”
A spokesperson for Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said modern slavery was an abhorrent crime, which was why the government had announced its intention to introduce the strongest ever laws to combat it.
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
Rob Harrisis the national correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age based in Canberra. He is a former Europe correspondent.Connect viaemail.
