The Challenge
It takes many forms, such as human trafficking, forced labour, debt bondage, organ trafficking, child sexual exploitation and forced marriage. Modern slavery is not a narrow issue, but something that intersects with central aspects of our economy and society. New South Wales is at the forefront of developing solutions to this challenge, having established an independent Anti-slavery Commissioner through dedicated legislation to address modern slavery.
NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner’s Strategic Plan 2023-2026
Collaboration
The Institute partnered with the independent NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner and his Office to bring together experts and identify the key strategic priorities for combatting modern slavery in NSW.
This helped the Commissioner prepare the first Strategic Plan in the state. Through convening expert workshops and providing strategic, expert-informed policy development support, the collaboration harnessed the expertise of academics, not-for-profit leaders, business and industry leaders, unions, and government policymakers. The Institute co-hosted an event with the Commissioner’s Office to launch the Strategic Plan in June 2023, bringing together over 200 stakeholders working to address modern slavery and helping to build a community of purpose to take the Plan forwards.
In a nutshell
4
Expert Workshops
65
Experts Involved
200+
Launch Event Participants
"The rapid response capability of the Institute has been critical to our ability to execute our statutory obligations to develop a strategic plan to take New South Wales forward in the fight against modern slavery."
Dr James Cockayne, NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner
Solutions
The NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner’s Strategic Plan 2023-2026, Working Together for Real Freedom, sets out the following 5 priorities:
Build prevention capacity
Build prevention capacity to ensure New South Wales government and non-government systems can identify vulnerability to modern slavery and prevent victimisation
Enable remedy
Enable remedy to improve access for people with lived experience to effective remedy, including essential services, justice, self-determination, and empowerment.
Foster responsible business practices
Foster responsible business practices to show leadership in identifying and addressing modern slavery in supply chains and investment portfolios.
Change the narrative
Change the narrative to make the case for anti-slavery in a convincing and empowering way.
Develop a community of purpose
Develop a community of purpose to lay the foundations for sustainable and inclusive implementation of the Modern Slavery Act, 2018 (NSW).
How we are creating change
The project has had impact by generating an evidence-base for policy change. The Institute supported the Office of the Anti-slavery Commissioner’s capacity to engage with evidence by providing dedicated policy strategy and modern slavery expertise. The NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner Dr James Cockayne noted that this gave “us great confidence we were effectively reviewing, synthesizing and absorbing insights from a diverse evidence base.”
We anticipate learning more about the longer-term impact of this project as priorities are implemented in the years ahead.
Tracking progress
22 June 2023
Australian Public Policy Institute
The Institute contributes to new Strategic Plan to tackle modern slavery in NSW
