Migration reform a key step towards a slavery free Australia

27 April 2023 

NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner Dr James Cockayne welcomes the reforms of Australia's migration program announced today by Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil.

Dr Cockayne said, "The new migration policy agenda will help prevent modern slavery in Australia, especially through the steps preventing exploitation of migrant workers and international students."

"I hear regularly from people who came to Australia as migrant workers and international students and are now working in industries such as horticulture, cleaning, security, retail, sex work and hospitality. These people report being subjected to wage theft, workplace abuse and exploitation. These practices can indicate the presence of modern slavery such as forced labour, debt bondage or even servitude. Today's announcement provides important building blocks for ongoing efforts to ensure Australia is slavery free".

"I particularly welcome greater labour market mobility for migrant workers. The evidence from NSW and overseas makes clear that tying workers to specific employers increases the risk of modern slavery and related exploitation. Instead, our system needs to ensure workers have safe, reliable and protected access to effective grievance mechanisms that allow them to realize their rights, without fear of loss of visa status or retaliation against them – or their family members overseas. The pathways to permanency opened up by the new agenda also promise to reduce modern slavery risks for migrant workers, by improving access to Australia's strong labour protection systems.

Dr Cockayne said that weaknesses in the existing system contribute to under-reporting of modern slavery by migrant workers and international students. The Australian Institute of Criminology estimates that only 1 in 5 cases of modern slavery are currently reported.

"If workers don't believe they and their family members will be safe and protected, including with strong whistle-blower protections, they won't report workplace abuse. And if they don't report, we don't know where to find survivors of modern slavery and how to assist them." they won't report workplace abuse. And if they don't report, we don't know where to find survivors of modern slavery and how to assist them."