This week, the Modern Slavery Committee of the Parliament of NSW, of which I am Chair, had the privilege of hosting United Nations Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, Professor Tomoya Obokata. It was an extremely informative and thought-provoking discussion.

One key issue raised was the Pacific Australian Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme, with concerns highlighted about how the inability of workers to change employers falls short of international standards.

A big thank you to our Deputy Chair, Jenny Leong, for her contributions, and to the Anti-Slavery Commissioner, James Cockayne, for joining the panel. Gratitude also goes to Professor Obokata for his insights and to all who participated in this important conversation. Together, we’re working towards stronger protections and fairness for all workers.