Australia leading anti-human trafficking action
Brendan OConnor
posted Friday, 19 November 2010
Minister for Home Affairs and Justice Brendan O’Connor today released the second annual report of the Gillard Government’s Anti-People Trafficking Interdepartmental Committee.
The regular reports began last year in response to an Australian National Audit Office recommendation that systematic reporting of human trafficking initiatives may help focus and co-ordinate the important work being done across government.
“This report outlines the strong contribution that the Gillard Government has made in the last year to combat human trafficking in the region and on home soil,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Fortunately, people trafficking is not common here in Australia but its effect on victims is traumatic and has lifelong consequences,” Mr O’Connor said.
“The exploitation of people through trafficking is a human rights issue, but it also a criminal, industrial and economic problem for our region,” Mr O’Connor said.
The Interdepartmental Committee report highlights important changes to the People Trafficking Visa Framework made in June 2009.
“These changes have simplified the framework and provided victims and their families with greater certainty about their immigration status,” Mr O’Connor said.
Under the new arrangements, 21 permanent visas have been granted, 15 suspected victims have been granted bridging visas and 11 criminal justice stay visas have been granted.
Changes to the Support for Victims of People Trafficking program, along with the appointment of the Red Cross to case manage the program, has also greatly improved support for victims.
The report details that 175 suspected victims have received assistance from the Support Program, since January 2004, including 24 new clients in 2009-10.
The report also highlights significant achievements in 2009-10 including:
- the Fair Work Ombudsman undertook more than 800 investigations involving overseas workers and recovered more than $500 000 in unpaid entitlements
- The Australian Federal Police undertook 38 investigations into human trafficking, including major operations with the Republic of Korea and Malaysia. 70% of these investigations related to sexual servitude
- nine people have been convicted on human trafficking-related charges and there are five cases currently before the Australian courts.
There have been more than 270 AFP investigations into allegations of trafficking-related offences since 2004, including referral of 39 matters for prosecution.
In addition the report shows that the Labor Government:
- released its Organised Crime Strategic Framework in November 2009, which strengthens frameworks to combat organised crime, including human trafficking
- enacted new laws to prevent, investigate and prosecute organised criminal activity and target the proceeds of these crimes
- provided $1 million over three years for four non-government organisations to expand their efforts to combat human trafficking
- will provide about $4.3 billion in development assistance in 2010-11 to help reduce poverty and promote sustainable development across the world.
“Reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and addressing violence against women and children is key to combating people trafficking in our region, and we are doing this through the aid program,” Mr O’Connor said.
Australia’s aid program also provides funding for specific action to tackle people trafficking and labour exploitation.
The Australian Government has provided more than $50 million to support anti-human trafficking initiatives since 2003, including specialist investigative teams within the AFP and support for the Commonwealth DPP to ensure the prosecution and conviction of offenders.
The report notes that Australia continues to take an active role in international efforts to combat people trafficking through the Bali Process and the Conference of Parties to the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime.
Further progress will be made on human trafficking at the National Roundtable on People Trafficking to be held in Canberra on 24 November.
Tags: Human Trafficking