Stephen Howells to Review Employer Sanctions Legislation for the Australian Government

Stephen Howells has been appointed to provide options for giving the Employer Sanctions legislation more teeth and strengthening the suite of penalties available to effectively penalise employers who do the wrong thing by employing illegal workers

Senator Evans said the review would specifically look at toughening current penalties and the lack of prosecutions of employers who did the wrong thing.

The Howells’ review will examine:

• the effectiveness of the legislative offences and current penalties
• the effectiveness of current systems and operations to assist employers to comply with their obligations
• the effect of the employer sanctions provisions on business and
• the level of community understanding and acceptance of the need for an employer sanctions regime.

‘Stephen Howells will consult widely with Australian employers, union and industry representatives as well as relevant Commonwealth, state and territory agencies as part of the review,’ Senator Evans said.