# Australian fashion brands stalling on ethical promises > Baptist World Aid's report finds fashion companies set policies but fail to implement them, with worker conditions barely improving in two years. - Title: Australian fashion brands stalling on ethical promises · Abc - Summary: Baptist World Aid's report finds fashion companies set policies but fail to implement them, with worker conditions barely improving in two years. Baptist… - Keywords: baptist world aid, ethical fashion report, australian fashion, supply chain, worker rights, modern slavery act, sustainable fashion, fast fashion, luxury brands, news, politics, Australian - Source: Abc — https://abc.net.au/news/2026-10-20/ethical-fashion-report-australian-industry-stalling/107274548 - Published: 2026-10-19T19:09:24+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: baptist world aid, ethical fashion report, australian fashion, supply chain, worker rights, modern slavery act, sustainable fashion, fast fashion, luxury brands, news, politics ## Baptist World Aid releases 11th report Baptist World Aid released its 11th Ethical Fashion Report today, scoring 500 brands across 48 measures including governance, supply chain tracing and worker empowerment. ## Improvement barely registers Brands scored 31.5 points out of 100 on average, representing a 0.2 percent improvement from 2024. The stalled progress puts the Australian fashion industry at risk of falling behind. ## Policies set but not implemented Katherine Halliday, Baptist World Aid ethical fashion lead, said brands were getting better at setting policies but failing to implement them. > they're falling short of really implementing those to make change for the workers ## Living wages remain out of reach Halliday said almost no garment worker in the supply chain is being paid a living wage. Grievance mechanisms were only accessible to 20 percent of workers at less than a quarter of brands. > We know that almost no garment worker in the supply chain is being paid a living wage. ## Luxury and fast fashion rank similarly Luxury and premium brands scored 38.63 on average, only marginally better than fast fashion brands at 37.91. Outdoor and technical brands ranked highest, with Patagonia scoring 70 points. ## Sustainable fibres mask deeper problems Thirty eight percent of brands used sustainable fibres, up from 30 percent in 2024. But overall fibre production, particularly petroleum based synthetics, outpaced environmental benefits. Harriette Richards from RMIT warned sustainable fibres could be greenwashing. > it can sometimes be used, dare I say it, as a greenwashing tactic ## Tight deadlines create unethical pressure Only 7 percent of brands scored perfectly on responsible purchasing practices. Richards said tight deadlines set by Australian brands forced offshore producers to subcontract to unethical operators, creating a trickle on effect of poor conditions. > There's this real, like, trickle-on effect, just by someone saying, 'I need this order by this date,' ## Strengthen Modern Slavery Act Katherine Halliday called for the Modern Slavery Act to be strengthened to require action on due diligence, not just reporting. She said current legislation was improving transparency but not reaching areas most impactful for workers. > What we need to move to now is building in due diligence to that Modern Slavery Act that is requiring action rather than just requiring reporting ## Industry collaboration and consumer pressure needed Lorna Jane said brands should work together on shared challenges rather than in isolation. Harriette Richards said consumers and governments must take collective responsibility, with consumers refusing to buy unethically and governments restricting imports. > Ultimately, improving working conditions shouldn't be a competitive advantage. It should be something the entire industry is working towards together. ## Textile recycling remains uncertain solution Harriette Richards cautioned that textile recycling focus may be misplaced, as the industry is in a nascent phase and unclear whether it will fulfil its promises. > Textile recycling is in such a nascent phase and it is unclear whether it's ever actually going to fulfil what it says ## Key takeaway Baptist World Aid's 11th Ethical Fashion Report found Australian fashion brands improved just 0.2 percent in two years, with most setting policies but failing to implement supply chain improvements that benefit workers.