Trafficking–related articles published from January 1, 2008 onwards in the Australian media (or about Australia in the foreign media) are made available on this site. Their content is reproduced in full, and all copyright rests with their original authors/publishers.

In examining these media items, some general trends become evident. The frequency of reports published is seen to typically increase around the time of major arrests, the issuing of government reports, and newsworthy events involving victims of trafficking. The articles also display a general transition from simplistic coverage to more detailed discussions of the issue of trafficking in persons. However, many of the articles considered are sensationalist in their discussion of trafficking, emphasising the lurid nature of the sex industry, organised crime, and slavery, rather than providing a balanced contemplation of factors such as the driving forces behind the trafficking of persons. However, given the lack of reliable published data or detailed government reporting on the issue, some of this type of news coverage is understandable.

Several specific limitations of these news reports are also apparent, such as the lack of reporting on trafficking in persons for forms of work other than prostitution. Many articles also cite statistics but fail to engage in any deeper investigation or critique of these figures. Additionally, in respect of the terminology used by the media, the use of the phrase ‘sex slaves’ in headlines to describe victims of trafficking is particularly notable. It is arguably an inappropriate use of the term as it fails to reflect the complexity of the employment, debt bondage, and consent issues involved in trafficking.

Thus, a combination of the demand for sensational stories and limited time and space to document this complicated problem clearly limits the ability of the media to provide more than a brief overview of the reality of the trafficking of persons into Australia.