Anti-Slavery Commissioner Criticizes New Policy Plans
Chris Evans challenges the effectiveness of upcoming criminal penalties designed to curb modern slavery in Australia.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in International Trade
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Australia's anti-slavery commissioner, Chris Evans, is criticizing federal plans to combat forced labour through new criminal penalties. The critique follows a recent move by the United States to impose a 12.5 per cent tariff on Australian exports over concerns regarding supply chain labour practices.
Why it matters
The government is under pressure to improve supply chain transparency after the U.S. accused the nation of failing to prevent forced labour in its markets. Critics argue that relying solely on criminal prosecutions may be too resource-intensive to shift daily business practices.
The U.S. has imposed a 12.5 per cent tariff on Australian exports, impacting a sector that imports $25 billion worth of goods annually at risk of being produced by forced labour. This current rate represents an increase from the previous 10 per cent tariff.
The players
Chris Evans
He serves as the anti-slavery commissioner who is actively evaluating the federal government's legislative approach to supply chain oversight.
Anthony Albanese
He is the Prime Minister of Australia who has been engaged in diplomatic efforts to secure trade relief from U.S. tariff policies.
Donald Trump
He is the current President of the United States and has agreed to consider requests for exemptions regarding recent trade tariffs.
The details
The proposed federal overhaul aims to introduce mandatory due-diligence obligations and allow victims to sue for compensation. While the 2018 Modern Slavery Act required reporting on risks, these new plans seek to establish specific criminal offences for companies that fail to prevent modern slavery.
Timeline
The Modern Slavery Act was introduced in 2018.
The federal government announced plans for new criminal offences in July 2026.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese discussed tariff exemptions with President Donald Trump in August 2026.
Chris Evans released his paper criticizing the legislative proposal on October 15, 2026.
Market Dynamics
The proposed legislation marks a transition from voluntary reporting under the 2018 Modern Slavery Act to a framework featuring mandatory due diligence. This shift mirrors global efforts to enforce stricter corporate accountability across international trade corridors.
The introduction of potential criminal penalties for supply chain failures could lead to significant compliance costs for large firms. Investors should monitor how these regulatory changes affect the operational stability of companies with high-risk import dependencies.
The takeaway
Legislative efforts to address forced labour are shifting from simple disclosure to enforcement-heavy models. Businesses should prepare for higher compliance burdens as governments move to align supply chain practices with stricter international trade standards.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in International Trade.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Age.
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Should the government mandate that large companies legally address forced labour risks in their supply chains?
