The precise size of the labour trafficking problem in Australia remains unknown. The number of cases reported to federal agencies involved in the whole of government response to trafficking in persons is small. However, this research has confirmed that there have been instances of unreported, or perhaps
unrecognised, labour trafficking. This suggests not only the existence of under-reporting, but a lack of awareness among a wide variety of front-line agencies and service providers that certain exploitative practices in a work context are in fact criminal under Australian law. In addition, the cases of unreported or unrecognised labour trafficking exist in an environment that includes significant numbers of cases involving unlawful conduct perpetrated against migrant workers in Australia, including under-payment or non-payment, sexual harassment, deception or fraud about working conditions and sponsorship for permanent residency