The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (Palm) scheme has seen significant growth, with participation increasing from under 6,000 in June 2019 to over 32,000 by mid-2024, although nearly 10% of workers have disengaged due to exploitative conditions.

Many workers in the Palm scheme find themselves tied to specific employers, leaving them vulnerable to various forms of exploitation, including debt bondage and forced labor.

There is an urgent need for the Australian government to act on the McMillan Review's recommendations to protect the estimated 41,000 individuals currently suffering from modern slavery in the country.

According to the Global Slavery Index, approximately 41,000 people in Australia are living in conditions of modern slavery, which includes forced labor and sexual exploitation.

A report from New South Wales has highlighted the severe exploitation risks faced by temporary migrant workers, particularly in agriculture and meat processing, where practices like debt bondage are prevalent.

Women are particularly vulnerable within these exploitative systems, with increasing reports of violence and sexual exploitation among disengaged female workers.

While the appointment of Chris Evans as Australia's first Anti-Slavery Commissioner has been welcomed, critics point to the modest budget of 8 million AUD for his office as insufficient to tackle the issue effectively.

Evans' role will focus on enhancing Australia's anti-slavery responses and supporting businesses in mitigating supply chain risks associated with modern slavery.

Despite having a Modern Slavery Act since 2018, a recent review found that the law has not led to meaningful improvements for those living under modern slavery conditions.

The McMillan Review recommended 30 changes to improve the effectiveness of the Modern Slavery Act, including lowering the revenue threshold for reporting and introducing penalties for non-compliance.

Pacific governments have expressed concerns about the treatment of workers under the Palm scheme, calling for reforms to address the exploitative practices that many face.

Disengaged workers from the Palm scheme often lose access to essential services and may end up living in campsites due to their undocumented status.