Action on Australian Anti-slavery Commissioner "watershed moment"

30 November 2023

NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner Dr James Cockayne today welcomed the announcement by Australian Attorney General Mark Dreyfus KC MP of new legislation that would create a federal Anti-Slavery Commissioner, saying it represented a critical opportunity. 

 “As the only Anti-slavery Commissioner currently in Australia, I welcome today’s announcement by the Australian government that it has introduced legislation into the Australian Parliament that would establish a role for a new independent, merit-based Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner”, said Dr Cockayne. 

“This is a watershed moment in Australia’s fight against modern slavery. There are thousands of people suffering modern slavery in Australia today, yet only a few hundred reports are received each year. The creation of an independent national role promoting action by government, business and civil society can help close that gap.” 

Dr Cockayne said: “While this new legislation is clearly modelled on the ground-breaking arrangements in New South Wales, there is one key innovation – the specific function given to the Commissioner to engage with, and promote engagement with, victims of modern slavery to inform measures for addressing modern slavery”. 

 “Involving people with lived experience in efforts to combat modern slavery will be critical to those efforts’ success”, said Dr Cockayne. “Here in New South Wales, we have worked closely with people with lived experience since I took up the role in August 2022. This includes employing a survivor within my team, and the active involvement of survivors in my Advisory Panel. Their active participation is transforming efforts to combat modern slavery in NSW.” 

Dr Cockayne noted that many of the frontline agencies critical to identifying and supporting survivors of modern slavery operate at the state and territory level. “Having a national AntiSlavery Commissioner will bring a major boost to our efforts to combat modern slavery, but there will continue to be a need for active engagement by state and territory agencies such as healthcare, police and education. Here in NSW, we are pioneering new efforts to tackle modern slavery through more than $42 billion worth of government department, local council and University procurement. I look forward to working with any new national Anti-Slavery Commissioner to support each other’s work – and hope to see additional efforts by other states and territories in years ahead.”