Australian progress on tackling Modern Slavery recognised in key report

Minister for Foreign Affairs
Senator the Hon Penny Wong

Attorney-General
Cabinet Secretary
The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP

Joint media release

The Albanese Government’s efforts to tackle Modern Slavery have been recognised as among the world’s best in the US Department of State 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report.

Australia is one of just 33 countries to have been ranked as Tier One in the report which finds “the Government of Australia fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.”

The report highlights the passage of the Albanese Government’s legislation last month establishing Australia’s first Anti-Slavery Commissioner as one of the reasons for the Tier One ranking.

The independent Commissioner will lead the fight against 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.

The Government has committed $8 million over four years in the 2023-24 Budget to support the Commissioner’s establishment and operation.

The Commissioner will also play a key role in helping to shape the implementation of future modern slavery reforms, including those arising from the statutory review of the Modern Slavery Act 2018.

The Government has now begun the search for the inaugural Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner through a transparent and merit-based selection process.

Of course, there is more work to be done to eliminate the scourge of modern slavery from Australia and from Australian supply chains, and the Government remains steadfast in its commitment to this outcome.