James Cockayne looks forward to working with Parliamentary Friendship Group Against Modern Slavery
Dr James Cockayne, NSW anti-slavery commissioner, has welcomed the state government’s announcement of its intention to develop, within 100 days of its potential re-election, labour hire licensing legislation requiring host companies to utilise only licensed labour hire operators.
According to a media release from the Office of the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner, this planned legislation will include the corresponding criminal penalties.
“I welcome the Government’s announcement and Premier Minns and Minister Cotsis’ leadership,” Cockayne said. “This commitment follows years of advocacy by unions, workers, survivors, faith groups, civil society actors and, notably, responsible businesses and industry groups.”
Cockayne explained that the envisioned legislation will assist in keeping NSW workers safe from the dangers of “crooks,” “dodgy operators,” and modern slavery.
“I hope other parties in the Parliament will adopt a similar position, and I look forward to working to help develop and implement this important scheme,” Cockayne said.
Cockayne likewise praised the establishment of an all-party Parliamentary Friendship Group Against Modern Slavery in New South Wales.
“I applaud the formation and leadership of this new parliamentary group,” Cockayne said. “Anti-slavery is everyone’s business. It has long had cross-party support. This makes clear that is still the case.”
The Office of the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner highlighted the group’s leaders, including representatives from the crossbench (Dr Joe McGirr, independent Wagga Wagga member of Parliament and chair of the NSW Parliament’s Modern Slavery Committee), NSW Labor (Dr Sarah Kaine MLC), NSW Liberals, the Nationals, and the Greens.
The office further noted the group’s members. Apart from McGirr, they included Courtney Houssos MLC, NSW minister for finance and for domestic manufacturing and government procurement; Gurmesh Singh MP, deputy leader of the Opposition, leader of the Nationals, and member for Coffs Harbour; and Ben Franklin MLC, president of the NSW Legislative Council.
“I look forward to working with these leaders to help the more than 16,000 victims of modern slavery estimated to be in NSW, and to repair the $9.6 billion dent modern slavery leaves in our state finances,” Cockayne said.
In the office’s media release, Cockayne shared plans to travel to Dubbo, Tamworth, Armidale, the Mid-North Coast, and the Central Coast in the weeks that follow.
During these visits, Cockayne will hear out stakeholders throughout rural and regional New South Wales. Cockayne will also share new materials seeking to assist healthcare workers with addressing the issue of modern slavery.
Here are some other news stories touching upon modern slavery.
In August, the federal government called attention to a public consultation, closing on 25 September 2026, regarding reforms seeking to toughen the modern slavery framework and the legislative response to this issue in modern supply chains.
Last July, the federal government shared its plan to introduce a new criminal offence to the Modern Slavery Act to target high-earning companies failing to prevent the use of modern slavery within international supply chains.
In March 2025, the Victorian bar highlighted Fiona McLeod as the recipient of the 10th Pro Bono Trophy for her pro bono advocacy over many years, including in initiatives tackling modern slavery, human trafficking, and justice for First Nations communities.
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