The Select Committee on Human Trafficking in New South Wales was established by the Legislative Council to inquire into and report on human trafficking in New South Wales. In particular, the terms of reference for this inquiry included:
- The role and effectiveness of New South Wales law enforcement agencies in responding to human trafficking including:
- how New South Wales law enforcement agencies respond to human trafficking, including slavery, slavery-like practices such as servitude, forced labour, and people trafficking,
- the influence of organised crime in human trafficking in New South Wales,
- The prevalence of human trafficking in New south Wales,
- The effectiveness and of relevant legislation and policies,
- The practical measures and policies including security measures to protect New South Wales identity documents that would address human trafficking in New South Wales, and
- Other related issues
Anti-Slavery Australia recommends that the NSW Government implement effective policies and referral pathways for government agencies, law enforcement and key stakeholders to assist in the identification and protection of victims of human trafficking and slavery. Anti-Slavery Australia submits that the NSW Government should strengthen the state-based support services for victims of forced marriage in NSW, and fund education and training programmes on forced marriage, conduct and assessment of the NSW Victims Services and Support to provide financial recognition to victims of all forms of human trafficking and slavery, introduce licensing for the labour hire sector, and strengthen the public procurement guidelines to ensure that no goods or services bought with public money are contaminated with human trafficking or slavery.
Anti-Slavery Australia Submission to the Inquiry into Human Trafficking and Slavery in NSW (2017)