"Australia spends billions on imports at risk of forced labour, driving calls for urgent law reform", 3 February 2026

New analysis from Walk Free and Fair Supply estimates nearly AU$100 billion worth of imports to Australia are at heightened risk of modern slavery.

This represents around $1 in every $5 spent on imported goods in 2024 alone.

The most money was spent on electronic machinery and appliances, with nearly $13 billion dollars of imports deemed high risk.

Nearly 90 per cent of apparel and clothing imports come from countries with forced labour risks.

Many other everyday goods, including phones, computers, footwear and vehicle parts, are also at risk of being manufactured using exploited workers.

Nearly two-thirds of global forced labour cases happen within international supply chains

The latest Global Slavery Index estimates nearly two-thirds of forced labour cases worldwide are tied to global supply chains.

This new analysis reveals Australian businesses and consumers are purchasing goods linked to supply chains where forced labour is prevalent, from apparel manufacturing in South Asia to electronics production in East and Southeast Asia.

With Australians unknowingly spending their hard-earned wages on goods linked to forced labour, the need for stronger legislation is urgent…

Without stronger regulation, businesses face no requirement to identify, reduce, or report these risks in a meaningful or consistent way.

Australia’s Modern Slavery Act was world-leading when introduced, but evidence over the last 8 years shows mandatory reporting alone has done little to reduce harm for victims.

Most companies are still not identifying specific risks within their supply chains, and even fewer are taking concrete steps to address forced labour…

Australia must move quickly to strengthen its response to forced labour by:

• Introducing a mandatory due diligence obligation into the Modern Slavery Act.
• Ensuring businesses take meaningful action to identify and address forced labour risks in their supply chains.

Strengthening the Act will make it harder for goods made with forced labour to enter Australia and help protect the millions of people trapped in exploitation around the world.

… Read the full analysis of Australia’s trade exposure to modern slavery.