A father has been jailed after he attempted to marry his teenage children without their consent.
On Friday, the 51 year old was sentenced in Sydney's Downing Centre District Court to three years and four months' imprisonment for attempting to orchestrate separate forced marriages for 15 and 17-year-old children.
Police said the siblings immigrated to Australia with their father in 2021 and quickly learned their father was "actively" attempting to organise their respective marriages, "against their wishes".
The siblings were unsure as to who they would be married to or even when the weddings would occur.
Following their escape, Australian Federal Police officers searched the father's house and seized mobile phones which showed attempts to arrange the marriages, "including messages about planning the weddings".
AFP Sergeant Chantal Pravaz said the prosecution would not have been possible without the victims' courage and bravery in coming forward.
"The victims placed their trust in the AFP and their openness assisted our investigation," she said.
Police said the siblings were now being supported by an organisation working with children and young people affected by forced marriage.
AFP Commander Kate Ferry said despite the crime often being under-reported Australia was not immune to human trafficking.
"There are usually two types of forced marriages," she said.
"One is where unwilling participants are threatened, deceived or coerced to enter a marriage. The other is where someone cannot legally consent to marriage due to their age.
"This crime type is one that generally involves perpetrators offending against younger, more vulnerable family members."
Despite only a small number of people often reporting human trafficking, AFP data shows it is increasing.
In the last financial year, AFP received 382 human trafficking reports, of which 91 related to forced marriage allegations.
Comparatively they received 340 reports the year prior.
It is the second case to successfully prosecute charges for forced marriage after a Victorian court found mother Sakina Muhammad Jan, 48, guilty in July.