TESTING AUSTRALIA’ S MODERN SLAVERY ACT EFFECTIVENESS
UNSW RESEARCH
In 2018, Australia introduced the Modern Slavery Act which requires businesses to report on their risks of modern slavery in their operations and supply chains.
The Act is one of a growing number of national regulatory regimes that seek to address corporate human rights breaches in supply chains. This project will improve the understanding of modern slavery risks in global supply chains by identifying and better understanding which sectors have a high risk of modern slavery, and how risk factors differ across sectors.
THE KALDOR CENTRE DATA LAB
UNSW RESEARCH
100 INNOVATIONS AND CAPABILITIES
The projects 2022 report, Paper Promises: Evaluating the early impact of Australia’ s Modern Slavery Act, called on the Australian government to strengthen Australia’ s modern slavery laws after their investigations found that, despite a large number of companies reporting, most are failing to identify obvious risks of forced labour in their supply chains or take action to address them.
> This project received a two-year grant from the Australian Commonwealth Government for research into modern slavery.
> The research team consists of a coalition of 5 universities, 3 NGOs and 20 UNSW students.
Statistics can’ t tell us everything – but they can help to build a much-needed evidence base for better decision-making in our courts and tribunals. We need to ensure fairness for all, especially for people seeking protection, where the stakes are so high.
The Kaldor Centre Data Lab – a first in Australia – uses data to examine decision-making in Australia’ s refugee legal system. Data reveals trends otherwise unnoticed. This work, still in its early stages, already uncovers patterns in the potentially life-or-death outcomes for refugees, such as showing that someone’ s success in seeking protection varies between 0 – 93 per cent depending on who hears their case.
The Kaldor Centre will link other pioneering data-driven legal labs around the world. As TKC builds a tech team around this project, it can dig deeper into court data, to combat bias and bottlenecks – and to enhance democracy and public trust in our institutions.
> It will provide initial recommendations to the Australian Government on how to strengthen legislation on modern slavery reporting.
> Recognised as a vital approach by the Australian Law Reform Commission.
> Can be scaled to cover other courts and tribunals and other areas of law.
> Reform Commission Generated interest in tribunals and could be extended to other courts.
> Can drive consistency, fairness, efficiency and public confidence in the legal system.
> Can battle bias and boost democracy.
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