Well, not a reprieve on the employment of slaves in your supply chain, but an extension of the due date to lodge your Modern Slavery Statement.

In acknowledgement of the effect COVID-19 is having on most Australian businesses, Australian Border Force has announced that those normally obliged to lodge their Modern Slavery Statements by either 30 September 2020 or 31 December 2020 will have a three month extension.

Here is a summary of the new deadlines:

Reporting period Original deadline for submission of modern slavery statement New, extended deadline for submission of modern slavery statement
1 April 2019 – 31 March 2020 (Foreign Financial Year) 30 September 2020 31 December 2020
1 July 2019 – 30 June 2020 (Australian Financial Year) 31 December 2020 31 March 2021
Reporting periods ending after 30 June 2020 The six month deadline for reporting periods ending after 30 June 2020 remains unchanged

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