The federal government is moving to expand the definition of forced marriage and increase the penalties that apply to such unions.
Forced marriage offences now carry a maximum penalty of four years jail for a base offence and seven years for an aggravated offence.
Legislation introduced to parliament on Thursday raises them to seven and nine years respectively.
Justice Minister Michael Keenan said a forced marriage now occurs when a person doesn't freely and fully consent to a marriage because of coercion or deception.
Since the offence came into force in 2013, police have become aware of cases like the 12-year-old girl who purportedly consented to marry a much older man.
The changes would make it clear that a forced marriage occurs where a person can't understand the nature and effect of a marriage ceremony.
Mr Keenan said the increased penalties reflected the seriousness of forced marriage as a "slavery-like practice, a form of gender-based violence and an abuse of human rights".
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