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In late 2022, the Australian Government, led by the Australian Border Force (ABF), created Operation Inglenook to identify “exploitation of Australia’s temporary visa program” and “victims of trafficking or modern slavery practices within the sex industry”. This led to visa cancellations at the border, detention and deportation, and raids on workplaces of Asian migrant sex workers. Inglenook continues to be a dangerous, risky, expensive and unnecessary undertaking by the Commonwealth government.

After a year of operation (14 November 2022 – November 2023)

• Less than five people had been referred to Australia’s Support for Trafficked People Program by Operation Inglenook.
• 98 people had been detained, with 92 of them being refused immigration clearance on arrival to Australia, had their visas cancelled and were then detained, and 91 were deported.
• Six people were identified by Border Force operations within Australia (such as during brothel raids) and subsequently detained; but less than five had their visas cancelled.
• Of the 98 people detained, 87 were female, 58 were aged between 20 to 29, and 52 were from or citizens of Japan.
• Of the 93 visa cancellations, 61 were Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), 21 were a Visitor Visa (across two types), and 6 were Student Visas.

After 21 months of operation (14 November 2022 – 18 August 2024)

• 165 people have been refused immigration clearance as a result of Operation Inglenook.
• 154 were women, 78 were aged 29 or younger, 87 were from Japan, 18 from China, 16 from Taiwan, 12 from Thailand, 7 from Indonesia and 6 from South Korea.