At LGP, we’re committed to helping councils navigate the complexities of modern slavery risks in their procurement processes. We’ve just completed our 2025 annual modern slavery risk assessment across all panel contracts, and we’ve updated the modern slavery risk ratings for all LGP-approved contractors. You’ll now see these updated ratings displayed as Supplier Intelligence (SI) badges in VendorPanel.
Why This Matters for NSW Councils
Under the NSW Local Government Act 1993, all councils in New South Wales are required to:
- Take reasonable steps to ensure that the goods and services they procure are free from modern slavery, and
- Include a statement in their annual report outlining the steps they’ve taken during the year to address modern slavery risks. In December 2023, the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner introduced the Guidance on Reasonable Steps (GRS) to help manage modern slavery risks in operations and supply chains. Effective from 1 January 2024, this guidance outlines seven key steps (the “reasonable steps”) for councils to follow: Commit, Plan, Source, Manage, Remedy, Report, Improve.
How LGP Can Help
Our updated modern slavery risk ratings are a powerful tool for councils to assist them in meeting the GRS requirements, particularly steps 3 (Source) and 4 (Manage). By using these ratings when purchasing through LGP contracts, councils can take an important step towards demonstrating due diligence and addressing the risk of modern slavery in their supply chains.
Plus, you won’t have to worry about the time-consuming process of distributing, collecting, and assessing modern slavery questionnaires from suppliers. We’ve already done the heavy lifting for you!
But LGP’s support goes well beyond risk ratings. We also provide:
- Supplier specific modern slavery risk assessments to help councils understand risk within their own supplier base.
- Modern Slavery Risk Management Plans aligned with the GRS to embed consistent procurement and contract management processes.
- Targeted modern slavery training covering awareness, legislation, procurement planning, evaluating supplier responses, and integrating controls into contract management.
- Procurement process and document reviews to ensure modern slavery considerations are embedded throughout procurement framework, templates, and evaluation documents.
- Modern Slavery Toolkit providing resources to assist councils to identify, assess and manage modern slavery risks.
These services help councils operationalise the GRS across the entire procurement lifecycle, from planning and market engagement to evaluation and ongoing contract oversight. Please contact [email protected]
Learn More
For more details on LGP’s modern slavery risk assessment process, and to find out how to access and use the risk ratings, follow these links:
