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[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]
AUSTRALIA (Tier 1) – Extracted in
part from the U.S.
State Dept 2023 TIP Report - Australia
The Government of Australia fully meets
the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The
government continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during
the reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its
anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Australia remained on Tier 1.
These efforts included increasing funding for victim support
services, prosecuting and convicting child sex tourists, establishing a
pilot survivor advisory council, and initiating a review of its visa
framework to identify vulnerabilities to trafficking and anti-trafficking
laws. Although the government meets the minimum standards, it did not
adequately screen vulnerable groups, including domestic workers,
international students, and migrant workers, for trafficking indicators and
it identified even fewer victims. It also did not convict any
perpetrators under its anti-trafficking law, and overall the number of
cases law enforcement pursued remained disproportionately low compared to the
scope of the crime.
Prioritized Recommendations
Significantly increase efforts to
investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes pursuant to anti-trafficking
laws, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should
involve significant prison terms.
Investigate and prosecute labor
trafficking under anti-trafficking laws instead of as labor or employment
violations.
Significantly increase efforts to
proactively identify trafficking victims among vulnerable groups, such as
undocumented migrants, asylum-seekers, agricultural and hospitality
industry workers, visa holders, and domestic workers, and refer victims to
care.
Further decouple the provision of
services to victims from participation in the criminal justice process and
increase services available to victims unable or unwilling to participate
in the criminal justice process.
Amend the statutory definition of
trafficking under the criminal code to not require movement of the victim
as an element of the crime.
Train police, immigration officials, and
other front-line officers, both offshore and onshore, to recognize
indicators of trafficking and proactively respond to suspected cases of
both sex and labor trafficking.
Establish the National Labour Hire Registration Scheme with sufficient
compliance tools.
Train judges, prosecutors, and law
enforcement officials on the application of trafficking laws, elements of
trafficking, investigative techniques, evidence collection specific to
trafficking cases, and alternatives to victim testimony.
Conduct initial screening interviews with
potential victims in a safe and neutral location and in the presence of a
social service professional.
Establish a national compensation scheme
for trafficking victims.
Implement or fund awareness campaigns for
individuals vulnerable to forced labor, particularly among rural
communities and migrant populations, including international students.
Strengthen efforts to prosecute and
convict Australian child sex tourists.
Increase efforts to investigate and hold
accountable foreign diplomats posted in Australia suspected of complicity
in trafficking.
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