Modern slavery criminal laws
Australia has strong laws that criminalise modern slavery. They are in Divisions 270 and 271 of the Criminal Code.
Division 270
Division 270 of the Criminal Code criminalises slavery. The slavery offences have universal jurisdiction. This means they apply even if the crime happens outside Australia.
Division 270 also criminalises slavery-like practices. These include servitude, forced labour, deceptive recruiting, and debt bondage.
These offences apply to exploitation of a person in any industry or sector. They also apply if a person is being exploited in an intimate relationship.
Forced marriage is also criminalised under Division 270. It is another slavery-like practice.
The slavery-like offences in Division 270 have extended geographic jurisdiction. They apply to any Australian corporation, citizen or resident, even for conduct outside Australia.
Division 271
Division 271 of the Criminal Code criminalises human trafficking, including offences for trafficking people into, out of, and within Australia. It also criminalises:
- child trafficking
- harbouring (such as hiding or concealing) a victim of trafficking
- human trafficking for organ removal.
Penalties
Penalties for the offences in Divisions 270 and 271 range from 4 years in jail for debt bondage to 25 years in jail for slavery and child trafficking. Read more about the types of modern slavery.
Australian state and territory laws also criminalise some modern slavery practices.
Criminal laws relating to the worst forms of child labour
Modern slavery also includes the worst forms of child labour. These include where children experience slavery or slavery-like practices such as forced labour, or do hazardous work. They also include when children are sexually exploited for profit, or exploited in illegal activities such as drug trafficking.
Australia criminalises:
- slavery and slavery-like practices, with higher penalties for offences against children (Division 270)
- child trafficking (for forced labour or other forms of exploitation) (Division 271)
- child sexual exploitation and abuse committed outside Australia by a citizen or resident of Australia, or certain entities (Division 272)
- child sexual exploitation and abuse (including for child abuse material) committed through a carriage service (such as a mobile phone or the internet) (Division 474) or a postal service (Division 472).
Australian state and territory laws also criminalise child sexual abuse and drug offences within Australia.
Maintaining strong laws against modern slavery
Australia is committed to maintaining strong laws against modern slavery.
Modern slavery, and the many forms it can take, continues to change. Criminals constantly adapt their methods to exploit people and avoid police. They are often early adopters of new technology, using it to further their offending without detection. Technology has also changed how we detect, disrupt and investigate modern slavery.
Australia closely monitors developments to make sure its laws remain effective, now and into the future.
Get help
Need urgent help? If you or someone you know is not safe, or it is an emergency, phone Triple Zero (000) and ask to speak to the police. You can ask for an interpreter if you need one.
Want to talk to someone? If you think you or someone you know might be in or at risk of modern slavery, contact the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on 131 237 (131 AFP) or The Salvation Army on 1800 000 277. You can also go to the Australian Federal Police website or The Salvation Army website for help. If you need an interpreter, call the free Translating and Interpreting Service first (131 450).
