Victims of forced marriages will have access to a support program providing needs-based prevention and early intervention help as part of a push to end modern-day slavery in Australia.
The federal government announced $12.1 million will be allocated over five years for the Forced Marriage Specialist Support Program and an extra $2.2 million to extend the Speak Now project.
The program will help people experiencing or at risk of forced marriage with essential access to counselling and emergency accommodation when needed.
The Speak Now project, delivered by Anti-Slavery Australia, aims to prevent forced marriage through education and raising awareness.
The government estimated there were at least 1900 victims of modern slavery in Australia.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said addressing and ending the crime required governments to provide victims with access to specialised services.
"Modern slavery, including forced marriage, is an abhorrent abuse of power, and the government is doing everything we can to eliminate it from our society," she said.
Last week, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus introduced legislation to parliament that would establish a federal anti-slavery commissioner to combat the scourge of human trafficking and modern slavery.
Among the list of tasks on the agenda are recommendations from a recent review of the modern slavery act.
The government has set aside $8 million over four years to set up the commissioner's role and operations.
"Modern slavery, including human trafficking, forced labour, and forced marriage, are abhorrent crimes that have no place in our society," Mr Dreyfus said.
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