Australia has appointed its first Federal Anti-Slavery Commissioner.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus announced on Monday that former Senator Chris Evans will take on the new role.
Evans will work with Governments, businesses, and non-government organisations to “fight against modern slavery.”
It’s estimated around 41,000 people in Australia are subject to modern slavery.
Modern Slavery
Modern slavery describes a range of exploitative practices, including forced labour, human trafficking, and forced marriage.
According to a report produced by human rights organisation Walk Free – where Evans previously worked – 50 million people worldwide were subject to modern slavery in 2021.
Walk Free estimated more than 40,000 of these people were in Australia.
Anti-Slavery Commissioner
Labor proposed creating an independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner ahead of the 2022 Federal election. It based the proposal on an existing role in the UK.
In the 2023/24 Budget, the Government said it would spend $8 million over four years to “establish” the job.
This week, the Government said the Anti-Slavery Commissioner will work to raise community awareness and help businesses avoid practices that could lead to exploitation.
Chris Evans
Evans will also help to carry out recommendations from a 2023 review of the Modern Slavery Act.
He was a Labor Senator for Western Australia from 1993 to 2013, before working at Walk Free for several years.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said Evans was hired following “a transparent and merit-based selection process.”
Evans will officially begin his duties as Anti-Slavery Commissioner next month.
