What is people trafficking?
People trafficking is the recruitment; transportation; transfer; harbouring or receipt of people for the purposes of exploitation such as slavery, forced labour including sex work, and/or servitude.
Traffickers usually deceive their victims about the nature of the work and use threats, force, violence and economic leverage such as debt bondage, as means of recruitment, control, compliance and exploitation of their victims.
Basic human rights, such as personal liberty, are also commonly denied victims of trafficking.
What is the Government doing about it?
In 2004, the Government’s Action Plan to Eradicate Trafficking in Persons was announced. The Action Plan has four central elements:
The whole of Government strategy to combat trafficking includes the following elements;
- prevention
- detection and investigation
- criminal prosecution; and
- victim support and rehabilitation
An outline of the strategy is available online at on the Attorney-General's Department website (http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/agd.nsf/Page/People_Trafficking).
Support for victims
The Support for Victims of People Trafficking Program provides individualised case management and a range of support to victims.
The person is identified as eligible by the AFP. Usually the person enters the Program on a Bridging Visa F (BVF) which is valid for up to 30 days. Recipients of the BVF are not permitted to undertake paid employment.
Within the 30 day Assessment Stream victims have access to the following support as needed:
- secure accommodation;
- a living allowance;
- a food allowance;
- an amount for the purchase of essentials such as clothing and toiletries;
- access to health care, including counseling;
- access to interpreters;
- and access to legal services.
To be eligible for the Justice Support Stream the person must be granted a Criminal Justice Stay Visa (CJSV), which requires them to continue to assist the AFP and the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions with the investigation or prosecution of a people trafficking matter, and to remain within Australia. CJSV holders are permitted to undertake paid employment.
In the Justice Support Stream clients have access to the following support as needed:
- Special Benefit, Rent Assistance and a Health Care Card administered by Centrelink (if needed and if they meet eligibility requirements);
- assistance with securing longer term accommodation;
- assistance to purchase essential furniture and household items;
- access to the Medicare Benefits Scheme and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme;
- access to legal services and interpreters;
- assistance to obtain employment and training (including English language training) if desired; and
- links to social support.
Persons returning from overseas to give evidence in a prosecution of a trafficker are also provided with intensive support during the periods just before, during and just after the trial.
During the Trial Support Stream clients will receive case managed support and :
- secure accommodation;
- a living allowance; and
- a food allowance.
Who delivers the program?
The Australian Government Office for Women administers the Program and has contracted a non-government specialist organisation to provide case management services.
Individual case managers are responsible for ensuring the appropriate delivery of support services, to meet clients’ individual needs.
Options for clients after the program
Clients of the Program who are deemed to be at risk of harm if they return to their home country as a result of their contribution to an investigation or the prosecution of trafficking offenders, may be eligible for temporary or permanent Witness Protection (Trafficking) Visas.
Holders of this visa are not currently eligible for assistance through the Program.
The Australian Government also offers some reintegration assistance for victims of trafficking who return to their countries of origin.
Improving support for victims
The Office for Women, in partnership with the Attorney-General’s Department and other relevant agencies, is working to ensure that Australia's anti-trafficking strategy, including support for victims, remains relevant and responsive to emerging trends and issues. For information on recent enhancements to the anti-trafficking strategy, see the Australian Government Anti-People Trafficking Strategy.