When the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) struck in early 2020, the Commonwealth government eased reporting deadlines and extended the date for firms required to submit modern slavery statements under Australia’s Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth). The economic recession caused by COVID-19 has produced the necessary conditions for further exploitation and enslavement of vulnerable individuals. This article asserts that, even without COVID-19, the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) in its current form will do little to address forms of modern slavery such as sexual exploitation, forced marriage, trafficking and domestic servitude. This is because the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) primarily targets labour exploitation and requires suppliers to voluntarily disclose their involvement with modern slavery.

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澳大利亚的现代奴隶制法案：后 COVID 世界的挑战？

当冠状病毒大流行 (COVID-19) 在 2020 年初爆发时，联邦政府放宽了报告截止日期，并延长了根据澳大利亚《2018 年现代奴隶制法案》（联邦）要求提交现代奴隶制声明的公司的日期。COVID-19 造成的经济衰退为进一步剥削和奴役弱势群体创造了必要条件。本文断言，即使没有 COVID-19，现行形式的 2018 年现代奴隶制法案（联邦）也无助于解决现代奴隶制形式，例如性剥削、强迫婚姻、贩卖人口和家庭奴役。这是因为《2018 年现代奴隶制法》（联邦）主要针对劳动剥削，并要求供应商自愿披露其参与现代奴隶制。