Australian companies are increasingly mapping their supply chains to address forced labour, trade and geopolitical risks. This surge in compliance stems from evolving regulations, supply chain disruptions, and stakeholder demands for ethical sourcing. Here’s why it’s happening—and what the data shows.

Why the shift?

• Tougher regulations: Australia’s Modern Slavery Act (2018, with NSW version in 2019) obliges companies with annual revenues over AUD 100 million to conduct due diligence, map their suppliers—even sub-suppliers—and publish public statements on efforts to eliminate modern slavery .
  
  
• International pressure: US measures like the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) and EU’s upcoming CSDDD and EUDR highlight export risk exposure for Australian companies .
  
  
• Corporate responsibility: Stakeholders now expect transparency around human rights and climate impact in supply chains.
  
  

Mapping in action

• AI-driven discovery: Solutions like FRDM AI allow companies to map their supply chains up to eight tiers back without direct supplier contact, overlaying geospatial risk data to reveal hotspots tied to forced labour, trade shocks, or geopolitical instability .
  
  
• Forced labour enforcement: Over 150 companies in 2025 had shipments detained under the UFLPA due to Xinjiang links; total value of seizures exceeded US $3.1 billion.
  
  
• Trade disruptions: Geopolitical conflicts in 2024 disrupted over US $212 billion in trade, emphasizing the need to plan for Red Sea blockades, China–Taiwan tensions, and border shifts.
  
  

Australian implications & stats

• Local enforcement gaps: Australian supply chains have imported thousands of goods tied to US-blacklisted Chinese firms allegedly involved in Uyghur forced labour—including 3,347 import declarations flagged for eight such companies .
  
  
• Policy lag: Critics—like Australia’s first anti-slavery commissioner—describe the current system as inadequate, calling for stronger import bans and proactive risk tools .
  
  

How mapping works in practice

• Risk overlay: FRDM AI visualizes supplier networks and highlights at-risk regions or commodities (e.g., Xinjiang, Congo, SE Asia) .
  
  
• Automated alerts: Real-time monitoring flags forced labour, geopolitical shocks, or sanctioned entities at any supply chain tier .
  
  
• Compliance reporting: FRDM AI streamlines reporting requirements and trade compliance (UFLPA, CSDDD, EUFLR) with automated documentation and supplier assessments.
  
  

Why it matters for your business

• Prevent delays from disrupted trade routes or customs investigations.
  
  
• Geopolitical monitoring helps mitigate disruptions from high-impact events.
  
  
• Brands adopting these measures respond to public demand and position themselves ahead of regulators and public scrutiny.

• Build optionality into sourcing strategies with scenario forecasting.
  
  
• Replace static spreadsheets with automated visibility tools
  
  
  

Whats Next?

Australian businesses are no longer taking supply chain ethics and security lightly. With mounting regulatory pressure, high-risk trade, and reputational fallout from forced labour, industry players are tapping advanced tools like FRDM AI to gain transparency across multiple supplier tiers.

Navigating this landscape isn’t optional—it’s essential for sustainable, ethical, and legally compliant business in a world that won’t tolerate hidden human rights abuses or supply chain vulnerabilities.

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Contact Us to learn more about how to build a resilient, compliant supply chain.

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