A not-so ‘just transition’ - corruption and modern slavery in clean energy

Australia’s role in the global energy transition is critical. But as demand surges for minerals like lithium, cobalt and rare earths, so do the risks of corruption and modern slavery.

07 November 2025

New majority government, same modern slavery commitments – what to watch in 2025

Labor’s recent federal election victory and new majority government clears a path for reforms to the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) (Act).

23 May 2025

Modern Slavery - Reforms at home & abroad

In this update, we summarise key modern slavery law developments in Australia and overseas during 2024, and what changes businesses should be prepared for in the rest of the year ahead.

10 April 2025

Modern slavery update: Government appoints Commonwealth Anti-Slavery Commissioner to enhance national response

The Modern Slavery Amendment (Anti-Slavery Commissioner) Act 2024 (Cth) came into effect on 7 November 2024 and amends the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) (Act) by establishing the Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner (Federal Commissioner) as an independent statutory office holder.

19 November 2024

Update on mandatory sustainability reporting in Australia

On 27 March 2024, the Treasurer introduced and read the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (Bill) to the House of Representatives. The fourth schedule of the Bill sets out a new mandatory sustainability reporting regime.

27 June 2024

European Parliament Green Lights EU’s CSDDD: Time to Get Ready for the New Era in ESG Obligations

The EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) will pave the way for a new era of corporate due diligence obligations.

22 May 2024

Commonwealth Gender Equality Strategy update: Working for Women

The Commonwealth Government has released its strategy for moving towards gender equality through internal government policy, law reform, and changes to procurement requirements.

27 March 2024

Closing Loopholes or a Stitch-up – the Government’s IR law reforms

The Government’s controversial 3rd tranche of industrial relations law reforms have now become law with both parts of the Fair Work Legislation Closing Loopholes legislative reform package passing the through Parliament earlier than expected in February after political compromise with the Greens and independent senators.

27 March 2024

Federal Court grants interim injunction preventing construction of Santos’ Barossa Gas Export Pipeline project

On 2 November 2023, the Federal Court granted an interim injunction in favour of Simon Munkara, a traditional owner of Tiwi Islands land in the Northern Territory (Munkara), against Santos NA Barossa Pty Ltd (Santos).

09 November 2023

Pathway to sustainable development: legal risks of climate change for the finance sector

This is a result of the important role finance flows play in the global shift toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy[1]. The stakeholders range from pension funds to banks and import-export institutions, which not only face the continuing indirect risks arising from climate action brought against clients and investees, but are also increasingly the direct targets of climate action for their roles in financing projects associated with significant carbon emissions.

01 June 2023

Australia’s Modern Slavery Act Review – Reforms on the Horizon

The eagerly anticipated report on the statutory review of Australia’s Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) (Act) has been released (Report).

31 May 2023