Good morning, everyone.
I'd like to start by acknowledging the Traditional custodians of the land on which we meet today, and pay my respect to Elders past and present, including all First Nations peoples joining us today.
I also acknowledge anyone in attendance today with lived experience of human trafficking and modern slavery and extend this respect to victims and survivors across Australia.
I acknowledge all members of the National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery in attendance today.
This includes Mr Chris Evans, who is attending this meeting for the first time as Australia's inaugural Anti-Slavery Commissioner. I congratulate Commissioner Evans on his new position, and I look forward to working together.
I would like to acknowledge Dr James Cockayne, the NSW Anti-Slavery Commissioner who is here with us today.
I also acknowledge my colleague and friend, Attorney General Mark Dreyfus, and thank him for his leadership in this space.
Today, at the 16th Ministerial Meeting of the National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery, we gather to reaffirm our shared commitment to protect the freedom and safety of our Nation's people.
The importance of roundtable discussions like this, which amplify the voices of victims and survivors, cannot be underestimated.
These voices inform the design and delivery of fit-for-purpose services and initiatives that will end modern slavery in Australia.
As Assistant Minister for Social Services and the Prevention of Family Violence, I'm proud to be part of a Government committed to eliminating modern slavery and human trafficking.
We know that forced marriage remains one of the most common acts of modern slavery committed in this country.
At last year's roundtable I had the pleasure of announcing on behalf of the Albanese Labor Government, the new Forced Marriage Specialist Support Program.
It's with great privilege that today I announce that Life Without Barriers has been chosen to offer this inaugural Forced Marriage Specialist Support Program from January next year.
This grant, representing over $9 million across its first four years, will provide tailored and culturally sensitive supports to people who are at-risk of, or who have experienced, forced marriage.
The Program recognises that a targeted and multi-faceted approach is required to address the complexities and cultural sensitivities related to forced marriage.
It will address the need for more prevention and early intervention measures, including increased education and awareness of forced marriage within the broader community.
It also assigns case workers to those on the program, to provide individualised needs-based and case-managed support.
Services will focus on health, wellbeing and social supports, including access to counselling, legal services, child protection and emergency accommodation in cases where it is not safe for clients to remain in their current residences.
A key goal of the program is to support victims and survivors to gain independence and self-determination.
Under The Forced Marriage Specialist Support Program, victims and survivors can self-refer through numerous community and frontline entry points.
This is an important design feature, which reflects what victims and survivors with lived experience have told us and recognises that those at risk of, or experiencing, forced marriage may be reluctant to engage with law enforcement for a variety of reasons.
The Forced Marriage Specialist Support Program aligns with commitments the Albanese Labor Government has made under the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032 and the National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery 2020-2025.
The Forced Marriage Specialist Support Program builds on services available under the Support for Trafficked People Program since 2013.
We know that increased awareness and education is needed to enhance community understanding and combat forced marriage.
Complementing the Forced Marriage Specialist Support Program, the Albanese Labor Government is also providing $2.2 million to extend the Speak Now Project for a further four years until 30 June 2028.
The Speak Now Project, funded since 2020, helps prevent forced marriage through education, awareness-raising, and collaboration with service providers, communities, and young people across Australia.
This project has also been integral in driving change to improve access to existing support services.
The introduction of initiatives like the Forced Marriage Specialist Support Program is one step of many that our Government has made to eradicate modern slavery in Australia.
Similarly, as many of you know, our Government has provided $24.2 million over 4 years, to expand the Support for Trafficked People Program (STPP). This includes the recently launched Additional Referral Pathway Pilot.
This additional referral pathway provides an alternate avenue for victim and survivors to seek support.
I'm able to update those of you here today, that as of 31 October 2024, 28 referrals to the STPP have been received through this pathway since it commenced on 23 July 2024.
Through initiatives such as the Additional Referral Pathway and the Forced Marriage Specialist Support Program, we are able to gain a real insight into human trafficking and modern slavery in Australia.
Our Government will continue to monitor and evaluate initiatives designed to address human trafficking and modern slavery issues, such as forced marriage, to ensure they meet the real needs of victims and survivors, and those at risk of exploitation.
Above all else, we will continue to listen to the experiences of individuals with lived experience of modern slavery and frontline workers, to inform and enhance our programs and support services.
It's only by working together that we can put a stop to the human rights abuses of human trafficking and modern slavery, and create an Australia free from violence and exploitation.
