Advocating for strong laws to end modern slavery
The Human Rights Law Centre is calling on the Albanese Government to strengthen our modern slavery laws and for strong, independent oversight through a new Anti-Slavery Commissioner.
No one should be threatened with violence, coerced, or abused at work. Australia’s weak modern slavery laws are allowing businesses to profit from abuse.
In Australia today, up to 41,000 people are estimated to be living and working in conditions of modern slavery. Globally, over 50 million people are subjected to modern slavery, with many making the clothing and products we use every day.
The Human Rights Law Centre is advocating for an end to this abuse.
This week, we are in Canberra calling on the Albanese Government to strengthen our modern slavery laws. We want to see requirements on companies to take action to address modern slavery, and penalties for those that do not. We want strong, independent oversight through a new Anti-Slavery Commissioner.
Legislation to establish the new Commissioner is currently before the parliament. But it doesn’t go far enough. To address modern slavery, the Commissioner must have the powers and resourcing to drive real changes in corporate practices, including undertaking investigations, issuing penalties and supporting workers to seek redress.
We will call on the Albanese Government to do more to stamp out abuse and end modern slavery in the supply chains of Australian companies.
Why we need stronger whistleblower protections
In March, Associate Legal Director, Kieran Pender was at the ACT Court of Appeal to observe McBride’s appeal – he is challenging his conviction, and the severity of his sentence.
Read more
International Women’s Day: Rights, equality, empowerment
International Women’s Day is more than an anniversary, it’s a global celebration of what has been achieved over centuries of campaigning and action by women fighting for equality.
Read more
High Court challenge launched for man facing deportation to Nauru
The Human Rights Law Centre has filed an urgent High Court challenge on behalf of a man who was scheduled to be deportated to Nauru. After filing the legal challenge, the Australian Government promised that our client would not be removed before his case was finished.
Read more
Acknowledgement of Country
The Human Rights Law Centre acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands across Australia, including the lands of the Wurundjeri, Boon Wurrung, Gadigal, Ngunnawal, Darug and Wadawurrung people where we work from.
We pay our respect to Elders past and present. This land always was, and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land. Sovereignty has never been ceded.
WARNING: This site contains images or names of people who have passed away.