Australia’s Modern Slavery Act will be strengthened with a new criminal offence and civil penalties.

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland announced mid-July of proposed changes to the Modern Slavery Act, including a criminal offence which will apply where companies with annual consolidated revenue of more than $100 million fail to prevent modern slavery in their supply chains. The proposed offence includes a defence where companies can prove that they took reasonable steps to prevent such harm. 

David Braga, CEO of IJM Australia welcomed the announcement and the opportunity to consult on the proposed legislation.

“Modern slavery affects an estimated 50 million people across the world,” Mr Braga said.

“The International Labour Organisation estimates that half of those trapped in modern slavery are located the Asia Pacific, and frighteningly, one in four of those people are children.” 

International Justice Mission works to combat modern slavery across our region in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and South Asia. In 2025 across these countries, IJM and partners secured freedom for over 2,500 victims of forced labour and saw over 180 trafficking suspects charged. 2025 also saw 66 criminals convicted of trafficking offences as a result of IJM’s work.

“As a regional leader Australia must take a firm stance to stamp out this horrific practice. Adding a criminal offence is an important step to show how seriously the Albanese Government takes modern slavery.”

While Australia has existing provisions that require companies to report on the actions they are taking to assess and address risks of modern slavery in their supply chains, the proposed changes are a significant step in requiring companies to take stronger actions. IJM also welcomes the intention flagged by the Attorney-General to consult on options to provide remedies to victims. 

“Consultation will be important to lift up survivor voices and ensure that their experience is heard and understood alongside the experience of businesses in finalising this legislation,” Mr Braga added.

“In particular, we welcome consideration of remedies for victims as a key part of this process. We need to recognise the reality of modern slavery for real people and that the standard of living we enjoy in Australia, at times, comes at a horrific human cost.”

“What we cannot allow in the passage of this legislation is to see the intention dulled. This cannot be about profits at the cost of people. The Attorney-General has made clear that the intention of this legislation is to give the Modern Slavery Act the teeth it needs.”

“The Australian public expects the government to lead from the front on this issue, and IJM Australia is very pleased to be part of that process.”

Article supplied with thanks to IJM.

IJM is committed to protecting the dignity, privacy and safety of vulnerable people. Names, details and images may be changed or represented by actors to protect identities. All stories and images are used with informed consent and safeguarding practices.

Feature image: Canva

Australia’s aged care system is entering a new era with the rollout of the Support at Home program, designed to make it easier for older Australians to live independently, safely and confidently in their own homes.

Coming into effect as part of the Aged Care Act 2024, the program responds to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care, focusing on quality, transparency and, most importantly, independence.

As Catholic Care’s Geoff Aigner explains, the changes are not just about policy, but about people. “The system is pushing what the department is calling ‘enablement’; keeping people able, happy and capable, connected in their homes,” he says.

What the program changes

The Support at Home program replaces previous home care arrangements with a simpler, more streamlined structure. 

According to Geoff, there are several key updates older Australians and their families should understand:

Greater Choice and Control

“There’s a much higher focus on quality,” Geoff explains. “That should come through in people’s discussions with providers of home care services.”

Reduced administration costs

A new fee structure means less money goes to overheads and more toward direct services and support.

Means-tested Co-contributions

“If you’re a full pensioner, you’ll pay very little,” Geoff says. “Self-funded retirees will contribute more.”

Free Clinical Services

“Physio, occupational therapy, speech therapy; they all remain free for the lifetime of the program,” he adds.

Quarterly Budgets

Recipients are encouraged to use their funding regularly rather than save it. “Spend your money now,” Geoff says. “Very little will roll over quarter to quarter.”

Supporting Independence At Home

A major focus of the new program is enablement is helping older people stay active, connected and independent. “The idea is to support people before it’s too late,” Geoff explains. “We want to enable people to do as much as they can for as long as they can.”

He says this shift towards independence is also about dignity and respect. “Your body changes, your mind changes, the people around you change. It can be difficult. But we’re here to walk alongside older Australians through that journey.”

How To Prepare For The Changes

Applying for a Support at Home package can take time, so Geoff’s advice is to start early.

“This is a long process to apply, to be approved, to get a package, it can take over a year,” he says. “Things change rapidly as you get older. We want to enable people and support them before it’s too late to help them.”

He also encourages people to be honest during their assessment. “Don’t present your best self like it’s a job interview,” Geoff says with a smile. “Be really truthful about what you can and can’t do.”

Choosing The Right Provider

Once approved, finding the right care provider is an important step. Geoff encourages people to ask questions and prioritise quality.

“This is a really intimate service,” he says. “Somebody’s coming into your home — they could be cleaning, helping you shower, or taking you to appointments. You have every right to ask questions and make sure you feel comfortable.”

He also suggests asking about continuity of care. “Am I going to be seeing the same set of people, or are they changing every week? I want people to understand me and to feel comfortable.”

When it comes to cost, Geoff says cheaper isn’t always better. “If something is 30 or 40 per cent cheaper, there’s a reason for it,” he says. “Think about quality. This is not the time to think about saving money, it’s about getting the right support to stay independent.”

To learn more about the Support at Home program, visit myagedcare.gov.au or call 1800 200 422 for information and support.

Article supplied with thanks to Christian Media & Arts Australia.

This article was prepared with AI assistance and carefully reviewed by the Hope Media Digital team.

Feature image: Canva

Australians will head to the poll booths on May 3, 2025.

And with less than a month until Election Day, political parties are well into a fierce battle over key issues such as cost of living, healthcare and climate action.

The announcement

At a press conference in Sydney, Albanese highlighted the significance of this upcoming election, urging Australians to think about their future.

“This election is a choice between Labor’s plan to keep building or Peter Dutton’s promise to cut,” he said. “That is the choice, that is your choice. Only Labor is acting on the cost of living. Only a vote for Labor will keep your wages growing.”

The response

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s opening response speech outlined his plans.

“Under Labor, Australia’s had the biggest fall in living standards in the developed world,” he said. “Labor’s economic policies and waste and spending have increased the cost of living for everyday Australians.

“Australians are now paying on average 18 per cent more for rent, 30 per cent more for groceries and over 30 per cent more for power and gas.”

How to vote

As is customary, voting in the Australian Federal Election is compulsory for all citizens aged 18 and over. Australians will need to visit their designated polling place between 8am and 6pm on May 3, 2025. Voters will be required to cast their votes in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

For those who are unable to vote in person on Election Day, alternative options are available. Early voting will be available from April 22, 2025, and voters can also request a postal vote if they are unable to attend a polling place on the day. More information at aec.gov.au/voting.

Additionally, Australians living abroad can participate by voting at Australian embassies and consulates through overseas voting. More information at aec.gov.au/overseas.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has urged all eligible voters to ensure they are enrolled ahead of the election and to familiarise themselves with the voting process to ensure their vote is counted. Visit aec.gov.au to enrol, or to check and update your enrolment.

If you require additional support when you vote, visit aec.gov.au/assistance.

“Vote based on your Christian values” says ACL

Faith leaders say it’s important that Australian Christians take time to pray in the leadup to any election, and to think about their vote through the lens of their faith.

“Our nation so desperately needs [Christian values] right now,” said Australian Christian Lobby CEO Michelle Pearse. “The best thing you can do is be informed, and especially coming up to election time, you’ve got to make sure you vote based on your Christian values.”

Visit aec.gov.au for more.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

Feature image: Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

About the Author: Joni Boyd is a writer, based in the Hawkesbury Region of NSW. She is passionate about the power of stories shared, to transform lives.

There’s been a lot of talk and confusion about the government’s proposed social media ban for under-16s.

Those working in the field of social media and marketing are particularly concerned, with their industry being impacted by the planned legislation.

Nicole Jameson from social media marketing agency Dark Horse said that the plan, announced in November last year, still has a lot of grey areas.

“The government hasn’t been super clear about what will be included in the ban,” she said, “but the CliffsNotes are: it’s aimed at protecting young people’s mental health.”

The proposed legislation looks to ban social media use for anyone under 16. The ban is expected to come into effect by December this year.

However, there are still many unanswered questions:

• Which platforms are included?
• How will they verify users’ ages?
• What data will they collect?

These details are being worked out over the coming months.

Why 16?

The age limit isn’t random. Nicole explained, “16 is when most kids get their first government ID, usually a learner’s permit. It’s easier to link their age to something official.”

But how this will be enforced raises concerns. Nicole pointed out, “For this to work, every Australian will likely need to prove they’re over 16. That means digital IDs for everyone.”

Concerns About Digital IDs

Nicole’s biggest concern is privacy: “We’ll all need digital IDs to access social media.”

That’s of particular concern for young people who struggle to get any form of ID, especially those who are homeless or disconnected from their families.

Platforms like Meta have already pushed back on the Australian government’s plan, calling it censorship.

Where Did the Ban Idea Come From?

The push originally came from a parent-led activist group called 36 Months, co-led by Sydney radio personality Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli,  advocating for kids to stay off social media longer to protect their mental health. A South Australian politician then ran with the idea, fast-tracking it without wide community consultation.

Nicole says she is cautious. “It feels like the government was very keen to move quickly. That raises questions about whether this is more about control tracking what people do online than just helping young people.”

Stress on Young People

Listeners also raised concerns that the ban could actually increase stress for teenagers.

Nicole agrees. “At 16, kids are already dealing with big changes—getting their driver’s license, starting Year 11 or 12. Suddenly giving them full access to social media at that age, without teaching them how to manage it, is wild.”

Instead of a hard age limit, Nicole believes education is key. “It’s about how they’re prepared to handle social media, not just their age.”

Which Platforms Are Banned?

Right now, the platforms facing bans for under 16s include:

• TikTok
• Snapchat
• Facebook
• Instagram

However, some apps are excluded. YouTube, for example, is seen as “primarily educational.” Nicole questions this decision: “Clearly none of them have used YouTube Shorts. It’s addictive, algorithm-driven, and full of potentially harmful content.”

Other platforms like WhatsApp and standard messaging are also excluded.

Will Kids Just Find a Workaround?

Another big challenge is how effective the ban will be. Nicole says that young people are tech-savvy. “They’ll find a way around it—whether it’s fake IDs or moving to new platforms.”

With hundreds of new social media apps launching every year, keeping up will be like “playing whack-a-mole,” Nicole said.

Final Thoughts

While the goal of protecting young people’s mental health is commendable, the details of the ban raise serious questions:

• How will it impact privacy and digital freedom?
• How will it be enforced fairly and effectively?
• Will it actually help, or create more stress and barriers?

Article supplied with thanks to Sonshine.

Feature image: Photo by Szabo Viktor on Unsplash

The federal government has handed down its final budget ahead of the election.

And while it comes with a multi-billion dollar deficit, there is some good news, including a surprise tax cut.

It also delivers further relief for those affected by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

“We’re delivering energy bill relief to every household, even cheaper medicines, historic investments in Medicare, higher wages and a fairer go for consumers,” said Treasurer Jim Chalmers as he handed down the budget last night.

On the back of this budget, the country will head into deficit (which means the government’s spending is greater than its income).

For this budget, the deficit will be $27.6 billion.

Here’s a guide to the best the budget has to offer for everyday Australians.

Easing the squeeze

Taxes are coming down (a little).

From July 1 next year, the 16 per cent tax rate (which applies to income between $18,201 and $45,000) will be reduced to 15 per cent (that’s worth $268).

And from July 1 in 2027, it will drop further to 14 per cent (bringing the total to $536).

“The Government’s new tax cuts will put more money in people’s pockets,” said the government in a statement.

In further cost-of-living relief, the Government has increased the Medicare levy “low‑income thresholds” by 4.7 per cent for singles, families, and seniors and pensioners.

While many have welcomed the tax cut, some have criticised the amount. Opposition treasury spokesperson Angus Taylor told the ABC’s 7:30 that a Liberal government would not support the cut.

“They are not a genuine tax cut,” he said. “70 cents a day, in a year’s time, when for a typical Australian family with a mortgage they are paying an extra $50,000 over and above what they expected.”

Energy

The government will provide every household and around one million small businesses $150 worth of energy rebates.

Households and businesses will receive two $75 rebates directly off their electricity bills through to the end of the calendar year.

“This is in addition to the $300 going to households in energy bill relief in 2024–25,” the government reported.

Health

The government had pledged $8.5 billion to making Medicare a better and fairer system for all Australians.

The Labor government claims the amount is “the single largest investment in Medicare since its inception more than four decades ago”.

The money will go towards making nine out of 10 GP visits free by 2030.

It will also fund 400 nursing scholarships and go toward training 2000 new GPs per year by 2028.

The government is also spending more than  $600 million to fund five new “urgent care” clinics.

The clinics will be bulk-billed GP services and be within reasonable range to 80 per cent of Australians.

Further, treasurer Chalmers has pledged $689 million over four years to reduce the cost of four out of five medications on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

The medications will cost a maximum of $25 (down from $31.60).

(Pensioners will continue to pay $7.70 for PBS medicines.)

The government is also committing $573 million on women’s health treatments (reproductive health and menopause).

Education

In a move that will please many university graduates, the government will reduce all outstanding Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) and other student debts by 20 per cent.

The change will mean a graduate with an average debt of $27,600 would have approximately $5,520 wiped off their loan.

Treasurer Chalmers also reported that the government will increase the amount that people can earn before they must start paying back their student loans.

It will increase from $54,435 (in 2024–25) to $67,000 in 2025–26.

“These changes will deliver immediate cost‑of‑living relief for millions of Australians with student loan debts,” the government said.

Housing

To combat Australia’s ongoing housing crisis, the government has set a national target of providing 1.2 million new, “well‑located” homes over five years.

The National Housing Accord is “bringing together all levels of government, industry and investors to unlock supply,” said a government statement.

The Albanese government’s existing Help to Buy scheme will also support Australians with lower deposits and smaller mortgages to buy a home.

And already in effect is a ban on foreign purchases of existing homes.

Funding for homelessness services will also be doubled to about $400 million per year.

Childcare

The Labor government has committed $427 million to ensure three days of subsidised childcare for families earning up to $530,000.

And the government also pledged to create a $1 billion fund to build childcare services throughout Australia, should it win the election.

After Alfred

In the wake of Cyclone Alfred, the government will provide a further $1.2 billion towards recovery for those affected by the disaster.

The government as already provisioned $11.6 billion to the recovery over the next four years.

The money will go to social security costs and recovery support.

“The plan at the core of this budget is about more than putting the worst behind us, it’s about seizing the best of what’s ahead of us,” Mr Chalmers said.

“To build a stronger economy together, and to build a future that we can all be proud of.”

For a detailed look at the budget, visit budget.gov.au.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

Feature image: Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash 

About the author: Michael Crooks is a senior journalist and former news editor of Who magazine. His work has appeared in People, Marie Claire, The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, news.com.au, Qantas magazine and more.