← Country Risk Profiles
2.2

weighted score 2.2 · nine dimensions

Country Risk Profile

Australia

Sourcing risk, regulatory exposure and audit intelligence for Australia-origin supply chains.

Forced & child labour

1

Zero TVPRA listings. No UFLPA exposure. Modern Slavery Act 2018 in force. Strong legal protections and enforcement against forced labour.

Worker rights & FOA

2

ILO core conventions ratified. Independent trade unions. Fair Work Commission active. Freedom of association fully protected.

OHS & audit transparency

2

Full audit access. No restrictions on independent social compliance audits. Strong OHS legislation and enforcement. Whistleblower protections.

Food & product safety

1

FSANZ internationally recognised. Low RASFF alert rate. ACCC product safety enforcement active. Standards closely aligned with EU requirements.

Environmental & regulatory

2

Safeguard Mechanism reforms tightening emissions reporting. EPBC Act governs environmental protection. No EUDR high-risk classification for Australian commodities.

Governance & anti-corruption

2

TI CPI 2024: 75/100. Strong rule of law, independent judiciary. NACC (National Anti-Corruption Commission) established 2023. Transparent regulatory environment.

Tariff & preferential access

6

No EU-Australia FTA (negotiations stalled). MFN tariffs apply. Higher tariff burden than FTA countries, but low MFN rates on mineral exports partially mitigate.

Non-tariff barriers

2

Minimal non-tariff barriers. No CBAM exposure concern — Australian exporters subject to domestic Safeguard Mechanism. Standards alignment with EU strong.

Supply chain traceability

2

Excellent traceability infrastructure. National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) world-leading. Mining supply chains transparent. Modern Slavery Act reporting requirements.

Labour & Social Risk

Labour & Social Risk

Forced labour risk
Zero goods listed on the US TVPRA List of Goods Produced by Child or Forced Labor for Australia. No UFLPA exposure. Australia's Modern Slavery Act 2018 requires entities with annual revenue exceeding AUD 100 million to publish modern slavery statements.
Worker rights
ILO core conventions ratified. Strong independent trade union framework. Fair Work Commission sets minimum wages and conditions. Freedom of association fully protected under law.
Audit environment
Full audit transparency. Independent social compliance audits (SMETA, BSCI) operate without restriction. No government interference in audit processes. Strong whistleblower protections.

Regulatory & Trade Access

Regulatory & Trade Access

Governance
TI Corruption Perceptions Index 2024: 75/100 — placing Australia in the low-corruption tier. Strong rule of law, independent judiciary, and transparent regulatory frameworks.
EU FTA status
No EU-Australia FTA in force. Negotiations launched in 2018 but stalled over agricultural market access disputes. MFN tariffs apply. Tariff score of 6 reflects higher tariff burden than FTA countries, partially mitigated by low MFN rates on mineral commodity exports.
Food safety
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) sets food safety standards. Internationally recognised regime with strong enforcement. Low RASFF alert rate for Australian-origin food products entering the EU.
Product safety
Australian Consumer Law (ACL) governs product safety with mandatory standards and recalls framework. ACCC enforcement is active and transparent. Standards align closely with EU and US requirements.