Frequently asked questions about modern slavery due diligence in Australia
Q1. What is modern slavery due diligence?
Modern slavery due diligence is the ongoing process of identifying, assessing, preventing and addressing exploitation risks across an organisation’s operations and supply chain. It can include supply chain mapping, supplier assessments, independent audits, confidential worker engagement, corrective actions and progress monitoring.
Q2.Which organisations must report under Australia’s Modern Slavery Act?
The Commonwealth Modern Slavery Act 2018 generally requires entities based or carrying on business in Australia, with annual consolidated revenue of at least A$100 million, to prepare an annual modern slavery statement. Organisations outside the mandatory reporting threshold may also choose to report voluntarily. Other organisations may report voluntarily or provide modern slavery information in response to customer and procurement requirements.
Q3.What should an Australian modern slavery statement include?
A modern slavery statement must describe the organisation’s structure, operations and supply chains, identified modern slavery risks, actions taken to assess and address those risks, and how the effectiveness of those actions is evaluated. It must also meet the Act’s consultation, approval and signature requirements.
Q4.How do supplier audits support modern slavery due diligence?
Independent supplier audits examine employment processes, management systems, records and working conditions. When combined with confidential worker interviews, they can identify gaps that may not be visible through supplier questionnaires or policy reviews alone.
Q5.How does the Achilles platform support modern slavery reporting?
The Achilles platform provides access to audited supplier information, assessment findings and improvement actions in one place. This gives procurement, sustainability and compliance teams a consistent evidence base for monitoring supplier risks, evaluating progress and supporting modern slavery reporting.
