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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-10-20 Daily Xml
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SEX TRAFFICKING

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (14:55): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question about sex trafficking.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: I begin by observing that Tuesday 18 October was Anti-Slavery Day, observed in particular in Europe and the United Kingdom where it is observed via a specific act of parliament.

Family First was concerned to see a well-researched story by the ABC's Four Corners program last week concerning sex trafficking in Sydney and Melbourne. In short, the allegation by the program was that Asian women are being tricked into coming to Australia on visas arranged by a Taiwan-based syndicate. Only upon arriving in Australia do these young women discover that they are not here to learn English or to get a job but, rather, to be held against their will as sex workers in Australian brothels.

I know from a briefing given to Family First by police in the past that there is intelligence that sex trafficking occurs in South Australia but it is very difficult to police as crime syndicates move the trafficked women quickly between brothels. Four Corners also claimed that the Australian Federal Police have not asked Taiwanese detectives for the information they had collected on the syndicate, although, to be fair, the Australian Federal Police representative on the program said that they had operational reasons for that approach.

Four Corners identified one man from the syndicate who allegedly informs the trafficked women that they are really here for sexual services and then physically prevents them from escaping. Four Corners claim thatthis man had a conviction for being involved in a brothel in South Australia in the past. In concluding this explanation, I note that 2 December is the United Nations International Day for the Abolition of Slavery and, therefore, I have three questions for the minister:

1. Has the minister discussed sex trafficking with the Office for Women?

2. Will the minister commit to investigating the extent of sex trafficking of women in South Australia?

3. Will the minister seek an urgent meeting with the new premier to ensure that his government implements measures to ensure that everything that can be done will be done to prevent sex trafficking in South Australia?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (14:57): I thank the honourable member for his important question. Indeed, sex trafficking is an issue but I do not believe it is a significant issue for South Australia. I have certainly never, to the best of my knowledge, received any complaints or am aware of any complaints that have come through my office.

I have had general discussions with police. I meet with the commissioner and/or his representatives from time to time and we discuss a wide range of various policy issues at those meetings. I have had discussions with him about prostitution and areas of concern around that from a policing perspective. The commissioner did not raise sex trafficking as an issue of particular concern with me.

I am more than happy to check the complaints and to check with police whether there is a particular concern here in South Australia. As I said, to the best of my knowledge, it is not a particular issue of concern here. However, I will certainly agree to check to see whether that is so or not.

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