A product made with forced labour can legally enter Australia. Nothing stops it.
Three bills to fix this have come before Parliament since 2020. None passed. Your MP can help ensure the Government finally acts.
What you're asking for
The email below asks your MP to support five specific reforms to Australia's Modern Slavery Act:
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Mandatory due diligence A requirement for reporting entities to undertake due diligence (reasonable steps) to address modern slavery in their operations and supply chains, enforced by a regulator with access to justice for survivors — ensuring the Act is people-centred and levels the playing field by incentivising effective due diligence while non-compliant companies face consequences.
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An import ban Introduction of an import ban to prevent goods made with modern slavery entering Australia, supported by public access to importation data from the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) to help identify Australian importers sourcing from overseas businesses involved in modern slavery.
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High-risk declarations Grant the Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner the power to issue high-risk declarations — where a product and geographic area are assessed as high risk and reporting entities are collectively failing to take adequate action — requiring businesses to act to mitigate the risk.
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A solar panel. A tin of tuna. A cheap T-shirt. If made by someone who could not leave or refuse, it can still enter Australia with no questions asked. The US bans these goods. Canada bans them. The EU is moving in the same direction. Australia is becoming the destination of last resort for products other countries won't accept.
The Trump administration's tariff threat on Australia cites our failure to ban forced labour goods at the border. The motivation is protectionism, not concern for workers. But the underlying finding is correct. Australia has no import ban.
The Government has stalled on the reforms that would actually fix this. More than 100 businesses, investors, unions, academics, and civil society organisations have called for change. Two minutes of your time adds your voice to that.
