Under an Australian Government visa program, hundreds of 17-year-old girls have been brought into Australia to get married. Over the past five years, figures show more than 200 17-year-old girls were granted prospective spouse visas, a figure child safety campaigners branded as shocking. Older men sponsored hundreds more 18, 19, and 20-year-old women who received the visas. The majority of the ‘teen brides' were from the Middle East or South-East Asian countries. With the visa scheme one 17-year-old from Thailand was brought out by a 57-year-old man. Similarly, a 50-year-old man sponsored a 17-year-old Iraqi girl. More than 100 17-year-olds from Lebanon were granted the visas after being sponsored by men aged from 19 to 37. Australian laws only allow minors to be married in strictly controlled circumstances with court approval. Under visa conditions, the girls must marry their sponsor within nine months. Joe Tucci, from the Australian Childhood Foundation, said “A thorough audit needs to be done to ensure these children are safe. Is this a program the Australian community really supports? “On the one hand Australia is doing a lot to stop sex tourism, but then you see figures like this and you have to question what is going on.” Chris Goddard, Child Safety Researcher said, the figures “make a mockery of local marriage laws.” “What interviews are done with the young people? We need a review of safeguards and a genuine discussion about what is an acceptable age difference.” An immigration department spokesman defended the visa program, saying: “Applicants for a partner visa or a prospective marriage visa must meet a range of criteria, including being able to demonstrate they are in a genuine and on-going partner relationship with their sponsoring partner.” BM
