"Disgrace and dishonour it has been that for many years our community was blind, deaf and mute to the problem of modern slavery and human trafficking," Fisher said, as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald.
"But how much more disgraceful and dishonourable after it has publicly recognised this evil, moved to eradicate it from our supply chains and by other action, and then thwarted such measures apparently so businesses and consumers may continue to benefit from slavery."
The NSW government announced a parliamentary inquiry into the act after it was passed, which supported the enactment of the act by January 1, 2021 with some amendments including a three-yearly review, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
One of the provisions of the act was to establish the position of Anti-Slavery Commissioner, making NSW the second jurisdiction in the world, after the UK, to establish such a position.
Fisher said Thursday that the COVID-19 pandemic has put migrants, refugees and temporary visa holders at greater risk of forced labor and human trafficking.
"I didn't dream that a law, passed by both houses of our state Parliament and given the Royal assent, with wide public support and in keeping with the best of our Christian anti-slavery and secular human rights traditions, would be blocked from coming into force by a democratic government," Fisher continued.
"Modern slavery" encompasses a number of conditions including human trafficking, slavery, servitude, forced labour, debt bondage and forced marriage.