Recommendation 214

The Australian Government has introduced legislation to establish a Modern Slavery in Supply Chains Reporting Requirement. The Reporting Requirement will require large corporations and other entities operating in Australia to publish annual statements outlining their actions to address modern slavery risks in their operations and supply chains.

Australia is also committed to a number of other mechanisms which support responsible business conduct both within Australia, and internationally, including:

• Australia's National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and Slavery 2015- 2019
• Monitoring compliance with OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises through the activities of Australia's National Contact Point, which provides a non-judicial mechanism to receive complaints – see www.ausncp.gov.au for more information.   
• Participation in the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights
• Chairing the Kimberley Process in 2017, through which we highlighted the important contribution the scheme makes to upholding human rights.
• Co-chairing (with Indonesia) the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime and the Bali Process Government and Business Forum to develop cooperative approaches between governments and business to tackle people smuggling, human trafficking, forced labour, modern slavery and the worst forms of child labour across our region.
• Provided funding support for the for the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, which works to advance human rights in business through building transparency, strengthening accountability and empowering advocates.
• Chairing Alliance 8.7 – a partnership of governments, UN agencies, businesses and civil society to tackle forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour. Since Australia has taken on the role of Chair, we, along with the Secretariat (currently ILO) and partners, have prepared an Alliance 8.7 Strategic Vision Paper; reviewed the Alliance 8.7 governance structure; convened a meeting of Action Group Chairs and UN Focal Points (March 2018); launched the Global Business Network on Forced Labour and Human Trafficking in Singapore (June 2018); held regional level consultations and bilateral briefings and worked with the UK to ensure greater coherence between Alliance 8.7 and the Call to Action to End Forced Labour, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.
• The UN Forum on business and human rights. Australia co-hosted a side event with Thailand during the fifth UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, on the Bali Process Business forum.

Australia also recently co-sponsored the Resolution on Business and Human Rights which was considered at the 38th session of the Human Rights Council.