Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently defended his country’s anti-slavery record after the United States threatened to impose a 12.5% tariff on Australian imports over concerns about forced labour. In response, Albanese described Australia’s existing measures as strong and internationally leading. Days later, the Australian government announced proposed reforms that would create new criminal offences and fines for large companies—those earning over A$100 million annually—that fail to prevent modern slavery in their operations or supply chains. The changes aim to replace a 2018 law that required only reporting, which critics said lacked enforcement. Details, including penalty amounts and what constitutes reasonable prevention steps, will be set after consultations. The push matters because it could affect how the US proceeds with its tariff threat and aligns Australia with tougher global standards.