Senator HUMPHRIES (2:56 PM) —My question is to the Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women. Will the minister update the Senate on how the Howard government is providing world-leading support programs to victims of people-trafficking?

Senator PATTERSON (Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —I thank Senator Humphries for the question; it gives me an opportunity to elaborate on the answer that Senator Ellison gave earlier this week regarding antitrafficking measures. The support for victims is a vital aspect of the government's new $20 million antitrafficking package. Victims of trafficking are in a very vulnerable position. Most of the victims do not speak English and many of them are unable to read or write. They come from very poor socioeconomic backgrounds and many have been subjected to violence and abuse. Many suffer from ill health and special medical problems such as drug addiction and hepatitis. Research shows that providing support is significant in encouraging victims to assist trafficking investigations and to act as witnesses against traffickers.

It is extremely difficult for law enforcement agencies to secure successful prosecutions against traffickers without the testimony of the victims. A $5.6 million package has been announced for a victim support program to assist victims of trafficking. The new program, administered by three areas of government, will provide a comprehensive suite of measures to victims of trafficking in Australia—therefore they will be able to receive the best possible care and support. The Office of the Status of Women has been responsible for administering the victim support program. The Department of Family and Community Services will provide special benefit and rent assistance. The Department of Health and Ageing will have responsibility for the administration of Medicare.

Research from overseas shows that the provision of support for victims significantly increases the willingness with which victims participate and act as witnesses against their traffickers. Some people estimate that that increase in the numbers of people who are willing to cooperate can be as high as 50 per cent. The new victim support program will ensure that victims who assist in trafficking investigations are fully supported while they remain in Australia. They will have a case manager to provide individualised assistance and this will include being accompanied to interviews with police and Centrelink and being provided with safe accommodation, income support, medical treatment, access to training and legal services, and social support. All victims will have access to the Medicare Benefits Scheme and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. I think this package will be an important factor in assisting these people who are mainly women and children.

Because of the complex nature of human trafficking and the special needs of victims and requirements of law enforcement agencies, the program is expected to take several months to be fully operational. A tender for a case manager is being advertised in a few weeks. This is part of a whole package to deal with a practice which is totally unacceptable and which should be stamped out. This is one part of assisting those victims. It is part of ensuring that they are able to give us information and assistance in stamping that out without risking their lives or their future.

Senator HUMPHRIES —Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister explain to the Senate whether she believes that the programs put in place by the Howard government are an improvement on those available previously under the Labor government?

Senator PATTERSON (Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —Nothing was done under Labor. One of the other areas that was neglected was that of student visas. I came into the portfolio as parliamentary secretary to immigration. I have no doubt that some of those students that were going to the shonky colleges that the states refused to regulate were actually people involved in these traffickings. There are many ways in which this government has assisted and reduced the likelihood that women and children will be trafficked.

Senator Hill —Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.