NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner welcomes appointment of first national Anti-Slavery Commissioner

11 November 2024

The NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner, Dr James Cockayne, today congratulated the Australian Government and Mr Chris Evans on his appointment as Australia’s first national Anti-Slavery Commissioner.

“In addition to being a Senator for 20 years and a former federal minister for immigration, for workplace relations and for tertiary education, Mr Evans brings a deep understanding of anti-slavery issues,” said Dr Cockayne. “Having led the Global Freedom Network and provided strategic leadership to Walk Free, he has helped shape global anti-slavery efforts at key moments.

“The appointment is encouraging on several levels,” continued Dr Cockayne. “Mr Evans has worked with business large and small, unions, faith leaders, civil society, and researchers for many years. He will combine a deep humanity and care for people with an understanding of how to get things done in Canberra. And his selection is a sign of the seriousness of the Government’s commitment to anti-slavery objectives.”

Dr Cockayne said that he looked forward to productive cooperation between his own Office and the national Anti-slavery Commissioner.

“The national Anti-slavery Commissioner has numerous challenges ahead of him – from founding a new Commonwealth Government function, to promoting survivor co-design of Australian anti-slavery policies and programmes, to strengthening state and territory participation in national anti-slavery efforts, to tackling modern slavery risks in Australia’s private sector supply-chains,” he said.

“With regulators overseas increasingly ratcheting up expectations of Australian businesses’ modern slavery and human rights due diligence, including in thorny cases like cotton and tomatoes coming from Xinjiang, it is crucial that government sets clear expectations for Australian business on what is expected of them to manage these risks. Otherwise, Australian business will find it increasingly hard to access overseas markets and capital, especially from Europe. Mr Evans will have a key role to play in shaping this conversation amongst government, business, unions, and civil society, over the coming years. I wish him every success and look forward to working with him.”

The NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner is available for comment.