Recommendation 233
- Attorney-General's Department
- Department of Home Affairs
- States and territories
The Australian Government's comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy to combat human trafficking and slavery has been in place since 2004 and is founded on four central pillars:
- Prevention and deterrence
- Detection and investigation
- Prosecution and compliance
- Victim support and protection.
Together, the measures under the four pillars address the full cycle of human trafficking and slavery from recruitment to reintegration and give equal weight to the critical areas of prevention, enforcement and victim support. Each pillar is informed by the overarching consideration of the rights and needs of trafficked people, ensuring all stages of the Australian Government's response to human trafficking and slavery are focused on the needs of victims.
The Australian Government continues to work with our partners to thwart those criminals and criminal networks who have no regard for the dignity of human life and national borders. In 2016, Home Affairs established a Labour Exploitation Working Group (LEWG) under the National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery to develop recommendations on measures to address serious forms of labour exploitation in Australia. The LEWG delivered its final report at the 2018 National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery.
In June 2018, the Australian Government legislation to introduce a Modern Slavery Reporting Requirement to require large businesses in Australia to publish annual public statements on their actions to address modern slavery risks in their operations and supply chains. The Bill will assist the business community in Australia to take proactive and effective actions to address modern slavery. In a world-first, the Australian Government will also comply with the Reporting Requirement and publish an annual statement covering Commonwealth procurement. The Government has also committed $3.6 million over four years to develop an online central register of statements and to establish a dedicated Modern Slavery Business Engagement Unit within Home Affairs.
More information on Australian Government policies and programmes on human trafficking and slavery can be found on the Human trafficking page on the Australian Federal Police's website and the Human trafficking and slavery page on the Department of Social Services website.