This proposal has 2 components which would take effect from 1 January 2023.

Component 1: Establish an office of the Australian Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, which would reside within the Attorney General’s Department.

This body would be modelled on the United Kingdom’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. It would be responsible for monitoring the efforts and effectiveness of all state institutions to tackle modern slavery, funding modern slavery research, and for maintaining a constant exchange with civil society and stakeholders.

The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner would receive a similar salary to the Australian Human Rights Commissioner.

In addition to the Commission, the body would employ five additional full-time equivalent staff members:

• Chief of Staff (SES B1 / EL2)
• Research and Policy Officer (EL2)
• Victim Support and Stakeholder Office (EL1)
• Communications Officer (APS6)
• Office Manager (APS5).

The body would have a travel budget equivalent to £17,852 per year (2019-20 figure) in the first two years, followed by £55,887 per year (2016-17 figure), indexed to the consumer price index (CPI). These travel expense amounts are modelled off the travel expenses of the UK’s Office of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner before and during the pandemic.

The body would also require funding for IT and telecommunications, office supplies and publishing, research, and training.

Component 2: Boost resources for the Ambassador to Counter Modern Slavery, People Smuggling and Human Trafficking to work with partners in our region to build awareness and help countries strengthen their responses to modern slavery – including forced labour and forced marriage. Funding amounts will be worked out through government consultation.

Both components would be funded from existing departmental resources and would be split equally between the Department of Home Affairs and the Attorney General’s Department.