The Joint Committee on Law Enforcement established an Inquiry into Human Trafficking which sought to examine Commonwealth law enforcement responses to human trafficking, including slaver, slavery-like practices (such as servitude, forced marriage and forced labour) and people trafficking, to and from Australia.
In response to the Joint Committee on Law Enforcement Inquiry into Human Trafficking, Anti-Slavery Australia focuses on three specific terms of reference:
- The role and effectiveness of Commonwealth law enforcement agencies in responding to human trafficking;
- Practical measures and policies that would address human trafficking; and
- The effectiveness of relevant Commonwealth legislation and policies.
In addressing these terms of reference, Anti-Slavery Australia makes seven recommendations to further strengthen Commonwealth Law enforcement responses to human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices by the:
- Appointment of an Anti-Slavery and Trafficking Commissioner
- Establishment of a national compensation scheme
- Strengthening of visa protection for victims of trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practice
- Development of new civil remedies and better protections for those facing forced marriage
- Adoption of the Productivity Commission’s migrant worker recommendations in the Inquiry Report into The Workplace Relations Framework and associated recommendations to better protect the Australian community from exploitation
- Ratification of certain international treaties
- Strengthen Australia’s response to exploitation in supply chains
Anti-Slavery Australia Submission to the Inquiry on Human Trafficking (2016)