On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the Albanese Government reaffirms its commitment to combatting human trafficking and modern slavery in all its forms.
This year's theme, 'Human trafficking is Organized Crime - End the Exploitation', highlights the growing links between human trafficking and other serious transnational crimes.
The Australian Government has zero tolerance for any form of exploitation and is taking strong action to address modern slavery, including human trafficking and forced labour, both at home and around the world.
Australia is deeply concerned about the growth of trafficking in persons into online scam centres for forced criminality. Many of these scam centres are operating across our region - to defraud and steal from people, including Australians.
Online scam centres have become one of the world's biggest illicit industries, spurring cyber-enabled money laundering and underground banking and fuelling the illicit drug trade.
Domestically, our Scams Prevention Framework, passed in February, introduces world-leading protections for Australian consumers. The National Anti-Scam Centre is working with government, industry, other regulators, law enforcement and community organisations to disrupt criminal operations and protect Australians.
Internationally, Australia continues to partner with governments and organisations to combat trafficking, share intelligence and support victims - including through the ASEAN-Australia Counter Trafficking program and the Bali Process, which we co-chair with Indonesia.
If you suspect that you or someone you know is being trafficked, call the police on 131 237 (131 AFP) or report online.
Help is available, even if you are not sure it is human trafficking.
Learn more about Australia's response to human trafficking and other forms of modern slavery.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong:
"Today, we reaffirm our commitment to the victims and survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery, to continue combatting this global scourge in all its forms.
"Human trafficking and modern slavery affect more than 50 million people worldwide.
"The Albanese Government is taking strong action to protect Australians and support partners in our region. Our world first ASEAN-Australia Counter Trafficking program and our co-leadership of the Bali Process is dismantling trafficking networks, disrupting online scam syndicates and supporting victims and survivors."
Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Michelle Rowland MP:
"The Australian Government is taking significant steps to prevent, disrupt, investigate and prosecute human trafficking and other forms of modern slavery, and to support and protect victims and survivors."
"This includes requiring large business to report on action to address these crimes under the Modern Slavery Act 2018.
"Australia stands with victims of these abhorrent crimes and remains committed to providing victim-centred support and protection."
Quotes attributable to the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services Dr Daniel Mulino MP:
"The Australian Government is making a significant investment in preventing scams and it is already having an impact.
"We want to prevent people being harmed by scams and are putting in place world leading measures to help keep Australians safe - our Scams Prevention Framework, legislated in February this year, will establish world leading consumer protections against scams."
