Insights into Modern Slavery: A public meeting with the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner

Modern slavery is hidden in plain sight 

It is estimated that there are 41,000 people in modern slavery in Australia and 16,400 in NSW.

Modern slavery is when one person treats another as if they owned them. It often preys on vulnerability, whether that is due to age, gender, migrant status, language skills, disability, poverty, or homelessness. Examples of modern slavery in NSW include:

• Workers trapped in forced labour and subjected to poor working conditions on farms in regional NSW
• Workers forced into domestic servitude in urban households
• Women and children, groomed, coerced and trafficked into sexual exploitation, in person or through social media platforms
• Cleaners and security guards working in office blocks, caught in debt bondage

Modern slavery is often hidden in plain sight and blended into everyday situations, making it difficult to identify. Additionally, victims may fear retaliation from their exploiters, coupled with a lack of information about available support, making them reluctant to seek help. Furthermore, some industries may have practices that normalise or overlook exploitation, making it harder to identify.

The NSW Modern Slavery Committee is currently holding an inquiry into modern slavery risks faced by temporary migrant workers in rural and regional NSW. This inquiry highlights the critical need to address these hidden forms of exploitation. The Committee is seeking submissions from stakeholders, including community organisations, local governments, employers, workers with lived experience, unions, businesses, and community members, until 28 February 2025. For more information on how to make a submission, please visit: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov...

Meeting agenda

This meeting will be joined by:

- Wagga Wagga MP, and the Chair of the NSW Modern Slavery Committee, Dr Joe McGirr 

- NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner, Dr James Cockayne

- Dallas Tout, Mayor, Councillor, City of Wagga Wagga

Key topics to be covered in this meeting include:

• Modern slavery issues and indicators in regional NSW
• Intersectionality between modern slavery and other issues such as domestic violence, coercive control, online abuse, workplace offences and homelessness
• What community members can do to support anti-slavery efforts in NSW
• Discussion and Q & A

Guest speaker

Dr James Cockayne, NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner

Dr James Cockayne grew up in Sydney and now lives on Bundjalung country in the Northern Rivers. Trained in law, public policy and human rights, James spent two decades overseas promoting human rights and responsible business practices, on issues ranging from harm-reduction based drugs policy to anti-trafficking. He was a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Futures Council on Equity and Social Justice. Over the last decade James’ efforts have focused on the global fight to end modern slavery. He was appointed as NSW’s inaugural independent Anti-slavery Commissioner on 1 August 2022, for a five-year term.

Thank you to the Rotary District 9705 Peace Communities Program for hosting the meeting.