If Australian border control sustains death & unlawful migrant exploitation, what must change?

Monash Arts

In 2010, The Border Crossing Observatory was founded by Professor Sharon Pickering and Associate Professor Leanne Weber, with Associate Professor Marie Segrave. It is an innovative virtual research centre that connects Australian and international stakeholders to high quality, independent and cutting edge research on border crossings. The work of the Border Crossing Observatory includes the Australian Border Deaths Database. Established by Professor Pickering and Associate Professor Weber this remains the only database of deaths associated with Australia’s borders: there was, and continues to be, no official Australian body accounting for such deaths. The Database has recorded over 1,993 deaths since 2000, with the latest on 7 June 2017. The database is expanding through a partnership with the International Organisation of Migration that will extend its research into South-East Asia. Associate Professor Segrave, with Professor Pickering and Dr Sanja Milivojevic, have led innovative research in measuring and accounting for the impact of responses to human trafficking and slavery in the Asia Pacific and the EU. In a forthcoming book, Sex Trafficking and Modern Slavery: the absence of evidence, they draw on original empirical research to reveal the ways in which border control influences both the recognition and response to victimisation. Associate Professor Segrave also leads the labour exploitation research agenda at the Border Crossing Observatory. Her forthcoming report on non-citizens who are working unlawfully in Australia, of which there is estimated between 50,000 -100,000 people, documents experiences of exploitation and the limits of efforts to reduce practices akin to modern slavery in a context where resolution of migration status is the priority rather than exploitation. From perceptions to tangible policies and structures, we spoke with Associate Professor Segrave on these issues who also offered a range of solutions. For more information on doing a higher degree by research, visit https://arts.monash.edu/graduate-research