[...] We support and commend the development of the Strategy by the Australian Government.

We recommend that, in determining and developing priority focus areas to be included in the Strategy, the following key areas are addressed:

1. Ensure companies adequately and fairly respond to the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on workers, particularly those in vulnerable situations including supply chain and informal sector workers.

2. Promote the establishment of adequate and supported pathways to remedy for people experiencing abuse.

3. Introduce steps, including penalties, to be taken against companies in the event of failure to meet current reporting requirements under the Modern Slavery Act.

4. Support the development of new legislative approaches to combat modern slavery in supply chains, including mandatory human rights due diligence.

5. Ensure modern slavery in company supply chains, both within Australia and extraterritorially, is adequately addressed by focusing on both domestic and offshore operations of Australian companies.

6. Adopt a gender-sensitive approach to addressing modern slavery.

7. Ensure due regard is paid to considering and mitigating against climate crisis impacts, including population displacement and linkage to increased worker vulnerability and exposure to harm.

[...]