Two Slavery-Related Cases Highlight a Growing Issue in Australia

Two Brisbane women and a Melbourne couple will face charges of keeping people in debt bondage and slavery after police raids rescued their captives.This stock image illustrates the growing issues of debt bondage in Australia. cairoj/Depositphotos11/8/2025|Updated: 11/8/2025A court order forfeiting a house so that the proceeds can pay fines for slavery and two women facing forced labour charges offer a glimpse into human trafficking in Australia.Despite offenders being caught and sentenced to lengthy prison terms and losing their assets, and harsh warnings to would-be traffickers from police, the practice is still rife.Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.Author’s Selected Articles