NAMBUCCA Valley councillors unanimously voted to tackle modern slavery, including support for an alliance against modern slavery across the Mid North Coast.
Councillor Ljubov Simson said her motion acknowledged the NSW Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s report and his work done so far.
She said it tasked council to be alert to the indicators of exploitation in all aspects of council work and to report any suspicions to relevant agencies.
Dr Simpson said her motion committed to working with City of Coffs Harbour Council on a submission to the upcoming NSW local government conference calling for registration and regulation of labour hire, called for enhanced resourcing for frontline organisations, and changes to the PALM scheme to allow workers to change employers.
Dr Simson said: “I want to acknowledge the many members of our community, and across the whole of the Mid North Coast, whose work over many years have contributed to the notice of motion I took to the Nambucca Valley Council.
“I stressed that modern slavery is a council-state-federal-community-business-industry human rights issue.
“And finally, Nambucca Valley voted to join the Mid-North Coast Joint Organisation (MNCJO).
“I emphasised that it is imperative to ensure tackling modern slavery should be a priority project for the MNCJO.”
Nambucca Valley Mayor, Gary Lee, put up a mayoral minute for all Mid North Coast mayors and members of local government to write to the NSW Premier, requesting that: the NSW government strengthen the powers and capacity of the NSW Anti-Slavery Commissioner; and that councils and the government create a coordinated local, state and federal government agency response to modern slavery in the region.
The NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner, Dr James Cockayne, issued a statement in response to Nambucca Valley councillors’ actions.
“I welcome the motion unanimously passed by the Nambucca Valley Council last night, to take action to address worker exploitation and modern slavery risks in the region,” he said.
“Local government has an important role to play in identifying and responding to these risks in local communities, and I look forward to working closely with the Council and other stakeholders to turn this commitment into action.”
Dr Cockayne reiterated that the risks facing workers on the Mid North Coast were real and required action at every level of government.
“I have published a Discussion Paper and draft Labour Hire Licensing Bill 2026 (NSW), setting out what a practical NSW scheme could look like,” Dr Cockayne said.
“A licencing scheme would help keep dodgy operators out of the market, strengthen protections for workers and give responsible businesses a fair playing field.
“There is a clear opportunity for NSW to act, and I encourage the NSW Government to seize it.”
Dr Simson said that labour hire licencing laws were required across NSW now, but that was where accountability started.
“We need to ensure our supply chains – from work-face to industry and consumers – are free from modern slavery. It’s everyone’s business,” she said.
By Andrew VIVIAN
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