How the Commissioner was appointed

Appointment process

The Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, appointed Chris Evans as the inaugural Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner on 7 November 2024. Mr Evans commenced as the Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner on 2 December 2024, for a term of 5 years.

The Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner was appointed through a merit-based process. This included public advertising of the position, as required under section 20L of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth).

This ensured that the appointment had appropriate oversight and that the appointed candidate had the relevant knowledge, qualifications or experience to carry out the Commissioner’s functions impartially and to a high standard.

Who the Commissioner reports to

The Commissioner is independent of the Australian Government and has discretion in performing their functions. The Commissioner does not report to government. However, he is accountable to the Australian Parliament through the preparation and publication of strategic plans and the tabling of annual reports.

These reports serve as a safeguard ensure the integrity, public transparency, and accountability of the independent Commissioner.