Estimates and other reported figures on trafficking in persons vary greatly depending on the source of information. Australian Government sources suggest that “there is no evidence of any large scale [trafficking] problem in Australia”.[1] In summary, government agencies seem to be aware of about 100–200 cases of trafficking in recent years. This is in contrast to some non–government organisations which suggest that approximately 1000 trafficked women are in Australia at any one time.

The most complete data on trafficking in persons in Australia to date can be found in the Annual Report of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) which features a yearly “performance” update on human trafficking related cases. The reporting on this issue commenced in the 2002–03 financial year and the figures are not always reported consistently.

Between 2002–03 and 2006–08 the AFP’s so–called Transnational Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Teams (TSETT) became aware of between 15 and 29 new cases annually; approximately 250 cases have been investigated since 1999 (when sexual slavery laws were first introduced with the Criminal Code (Slavery and Sexual Servitude) Amendment Act 1999 (Cth)).

Financial year New investigation during period Total (since 2004 to June 30) Total (since 1999) Apr 2007-Mar 08 27[3] 150   2006-07 15 125 n/a 2005-06 20 110 n/a 2004-05 29   105 2003-04 n/a   79 2002-03 20   32

In 2008, the AFP reported that since 2004 there have been over 150 assessments and investigations of allegations of trafficking related–offences. These investigations led to 34 people being charged with trafficking–related offences. [4]

The Australian Government estimated in 2004 that “[t]he number of people trafficked into Australia [is] well below 100.”[5] In 2007, the Attorney–General’s Department, relying on information from the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) and other law enforcement agencies, suggested that less than 100 victims of trafficking were found in Australia since mid–2004.[6]

A parliamentary inquiry conducted in 2004 found that while “approximately 300 women are trafficked into the country each year for sex work, the number of those who can be considered to be in servitude is likely to be relatively small.”[7] Australia’s comparatively remote location, the lack of any land borders, and its stringent visa requirements and immigration controls are generally seen as the main reasons for the low levels of trafficking into this country.[8]

DIAC, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, collects some figures on the number of non–citizens found working in Australia without a valid visa. These figures were last published in 2003 when the Department confirmed that between July 2002 and May 2003 it had identified 149 persons working in the sex industry unlawfully. Other figures released by DIAC (formerly DIMIA, the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous affairs) show that in the 2002–03 financial year 257 non–citizens were found working illegally in the sex industry. 100 of these persons (all women) were from Thailand. 49 women were from Malaysia, 42 from China, and 39 from the Republic of Korea (South Korea).[9] The figures, however, do not reflect the conditions of their entry and stay and thus do not reveal whether these persons are victims of trafficking.

DIAC also keeps records about the number of trafficking “matters” referred to the AFP for further investigation. According to a report published by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) in 2008, 221 ‘matters’ were referred to the AFP by DIAC between July 1, 1999 and December 31, 2007, including “196 referrals relating specifically to the sex industry, involving 174 suspected trafficked persons.”[10] Between July 1, 2004 and April 30, 2009, DIAC referred 287 suspected victims of trafficking to the AFP for assessment. [11] Most of these referrals related to Thai nationals who entered the country on tourist visas. The second most common nationality was South Koreans, who entered Australia using a range of visas. It is important to note that as the threshold for referrals to the AFP is low, not all referrals will result in investigations by the AFP.[12]

Financial year Cases referred to AFP 2007-2008 59 2006-07 46 2004 36 2003-04 67 2002-03 17 2001-02 2

Those persons who are found to be victims of trafficking have access to some government support services. In Australia, this system is referred to as VoTCare, the Victims of Trafficking Care, which assists those victims who are willing and able to assist government agencies in criminal investigations of trafficking cases. Between May 20, 2004 and January 31, 2008, 88 persons were referred to VoTCare. 87 of the victims were female and the great majority, 62 women, were Thai nationals. The remaining women were from other Asian or European countries.[14]

Project Respect, an Australian human trafficking advocacy group, has for several years suggested that about 1000 trafficked women reside in Australia at any one time:

Project Respect estimates that there are typically up to 1,000 women in Australia under contract at any one time. This refers to women still paying off a ‘debt’ and does not include women who have finished their ‘debt’ but remain in Australia. [...] Project Respect has made estimates based on a range of other information, including statistics from the Refugee Review Tribunal, Department of Immigration removal statistics, sex industry estimates, observations in brothels etc.[16]

Project Respect’s figure of 1000 women trafficked into Australia has been frequently cited in many media reports[17] and the organisation has made multiple presentations and submissions to government agencies in which it repeats this figure.

Other NGOs, such as the Scarlet Alliance, an organisation that represents persons working (voluntarily) in the sex industry, submits that there are around 400 sex workers entering Australia each year. [18]