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This project provides the first comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, and their exploitation in the sex industry and other forms of forced labour in Australia. It identifies and analyses reported and suspected cases of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of foreign workers.

This project examines the pattern and criminology of trafficking in persons, relevant criminal offences relating to trafficking in persons and sexual servitude, the immigration status and legal protection provided to both lawful and unlawful foreign sex workers, and the effectiveness of Government regulation of the sex industry in Australia in this context.

Based on these findings, the response by national, state, and territory governments will be critically evaluated. Global initiatives and best practices to confront trafficking in persons, especially those developed by the United Nations are drawn upon to propose recommendations for policy change and law reform.

The specific objectives of this project are to:

1. Understand the level, patterns, and characteristics of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, in Australia and examine the exploitation of foreign workers in the Australian sex industry and in other forms of forced labour;
2. Critically evaluate the legislative, regulatory, and policy responses of Australian governments at federal and state/territory levels in preventing human trafficking, protecting trafficked persons, and prosecuting traffickers;
3. Examine the impact of the legalisation of the sex industry and (where applicable) the licensing of brothels on the status of foreign sex workers in Australia;
4. Explore and analyse international and regional initiatives relating to the prevention, protection, and prosecution of trafficking in persons;
5. Propose recommendations to enable Australia to more effectively prevent trafficking in persons and the exploitation of foreign sex workers, protect trafficked persons, and prosecute traffickers.