Letters to Editors

Innocence for sale, 18-05-06

Letter to the Editor - Marie Claire

Dear Sir/Madam

It concerns me that your June 2006 article (Innocence for sale, p.82) incorrectly tells your readers that suspected victims of sex trafficking “face deportation” from Australia when, in fact, the Government has a range of measures in place to protect and support these vulnerable people.

Since January 2004, the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs’ visa regime has allowed suspected victims of people trafficking to remain lawfully in Australia to assist in law enforcement investigations and prosecutions. Victims of this crime are not “caught” by law enforcement agencies and do not face immediate removal.

DIMA provides a comprehensive set of visas that support Australian law enforcement agencies in combating people trafficking and which serve to protect those suspected victims in genuine need of protection. Options include the Bridging F visa, Criminal Justice visas and Witness Protection (Trafficking) visas – in short, they can remain here lawfully and contrary to your misinformation, do not face deportation!

The Australian Government has also introduced a support package for suspected trafficking victims, administered by the Office for Women in the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. The package includes temporary accommodation, access to Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, counselling and legal services, training and social support.

In short, we are doing our utmost to ensure victims of these despicable crimes receive the treatment and support they deserve.

Sandi Logan
National Communications Manager
Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs