Australian Government Modern Slavery Reporting Requirements

Under Australia's Modern Slavery Act 2018, organisations that meet the reporting threshold must publish information about how they address modern slavery risk. This is done through an annual modern slavery statement. The statement sets out where risks may exist across the organisation's activities and supply chains. It also describes the measures in place to assess those risks, oversee compliance, guide due diligence, and support appropriate responses.

Read the full legislation and requirements here: https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2018A00153/latest/text

Who Needs to Submit an Annual Report?

The reporting obligations under Australia's Modern Slavery Act are based on an organisation's connection to Australia and its annual consolidated revenue. Mandatory reporting generally applies to Australian entities and organisations conducting business in Australia with annual consolidated revenue above AUD 100 million. This can include resident companies, trust estates, corporate limited partnerships, and organisations that are incorporated, or centrally managed and controlled, in Australia. The requirements also extend to the Commonwealth, corporate Commonwealth entities, and Commonwealth companies that meet the same revenue threshold. Organisations that fall below the threshold are not legally required to report, however they can voluntarily publish a modern slavery statement to strengthen transparency and demonstrate responsible management of modern slavery risks within their operations and supply chains.

What are the Reporting Requirements for the Act in Australia?

To meet the requirements of Australia's Modern Slavery Act, a modern slavery statement must provide sufficient information for readers to understand how the reporting entity identifies and manages modern slavery risks. While the exact content may vary between organisations, statements are generally expected to cover the following areas:

• Identification of the reporting entity

• An overview of the organisation's structure, operations, and supply chains

• The key modern slavery risks associated with the organisation, its supply chains, and any entities it owns or controls

• The policies, due diligence activities, remediation processes, and other measures used to prevent, identify, and address those risks

• How the organisation evaluates the effectiveness of its actions and ongoing risk management

• Consultation undertaken with any owned or controlled entities during the preparation of the statement

• Any additional information the organisation considers relevant to its modern slavery approach

• Confirmation that the statement has been approved by the reporting entity's principal governing body.

When do I Need to Report?

Reporting entities covered by Australia's Modern Slavery Act must submit a modern slavery statement to the Minister within six months after the end of each reporting period. Although most organisations use the financial year as their reporting period, the legislation also permits another recognised annual accounting period where it aligns with the entity's normal reporting cycle.

How do I Submit my Report?

Before a modern slavery statement can be lodged in Australia, reporting entities must complete several legislative steps. The statement must be prepared in line with the reporting requirements and formally approved by the entity's principal governing body, such as a board of directors or another authorised governing body. It must also be signed by an authorised responsible member, which may include a director, trustee, administrator, or approved representative. Once completed, the statement is lodged with the Minister for publication on the Modern Slavery Statements Register.

Joint Statements

Where appropriate, two or more reporting entities may choose to meet their obligations through a single joint modern slavery statement rather than preparing separate reports. Developing a joint statement requires consultation with each participating entity to ensure the information accurately reflects the operations and modern slavery risks of every organisation included. Before the statement can be submitted, it must be approved by the principal governing body of each reporting entity or, where applicable, by the governing body of a parent entity that controls all organisations covered by the joint statement.

Revised Statements

A reporting entity may replace a registered modern slavery statement if corrections or updated information are required after it has been submitted. Any revised statement should include the date it was prepared, along with a summary explaining the changes made compared with the previously registered version.

Penalties for Non-Compliance