Tuesday, 28 July 2026

 Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (18:52): (2622) My matter is for the Minister for Police and is regarding the closure of the Victoria Police sex industry coordination unit and the implications it has for detecting human trafficking, worker exploitation and organised criminal activities. The action I seek is that the minister explain how Victoria Police is now addressing these risks and whether the government will commit to restoring dedicated specialist capabilities in this area. The issue at hand is not simply the size of the Victorian sex industry, nor the broader debate surrounding decriminalisation. Rather, it is the removal of the specialist police unit that plays a critical role in identifying vulnerable women, investigating exploitation and supporting enforcement action against criminal operations. Until December 2023 Victoria Police maintained a sex industry coordination unit, a specialist team responsible for overseeing the investigation of issues within this sector. This included detecting illegal operations, investigating allegations of human trafficking and identifying cases of exploitation involving vulnerable women.

A former investigator has described the unit as performing vital work prior to its closure. Police highlighted cases where women were allegedly being brought to Australia under false pretences, placed in debt arrangements and having their passports withheld until they worked off the debts. These are deeply concerning issues that go well beyond regulation and compliance and strike at the heart of modern slavery and human trafficking. Yet despite all these risks, the special unit has disbanded following changes to this regulations framework. While Victoria Police stated that the investigation of human trafficking continues in partnership with the Australian Federal Police, many questions remain about who is proactively monitoring the sector and identifying emerging risks. Victorians expect strong safeguards to protect vulnerable people from exploitation. If there is a critical, credible concern about women being coerced, manipulated or trafficked, the Labor government and now the new Premier have the responsibility to ensure that the law protects them and the community. I ask the minister: what measures have been put in place since the closure of the sex industry coordination unit to combat human trafficking and exploitation, and will the government consider restoring a dedicated specialist police capacity to protect vulnerable women and uphold community safety?