Sex Work Reform Legislation introduced in South Australia

A private members bill, Statutes Amendment (Sex Work Reform) Bill 2012 was introduced into the South Australian (SA) parliament last week (31 May 2012). The private members bill seeks to amend various pieces of SA legislation to effect to effect changes that will decriminalise various forms of sex work.

Sex-worker reforms in SA have been attempted since the late seventies, with little results and this is seen as the latest attempt.

If enacted the bill will amend the following SA legislation: Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935, the Spent Convictions Act 2009, the Summary Offences Act 1953 and the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1986.

In introducing the bill the Hon. SW Key stated as follows:

“There are a number of different models that operate in the sex industry both globalally, [and] particularly locally in Australia. Depending on the country or jurisdiction, sex work can be criminalised, legalised or decriminalised. Advice from workers and sex worker organisations, as well as the considerable research I have done and had done for me, has led me to support the decriminalisation model.

 I have been particularly influenced by both New South Wales and New Zealand. In the case of New South Wales, since1995 sex service premises have been able to operate like other businesses, and they have also been limited by local government planning laws. Individual sex workers are able to operate, escort agencies are not subject to regulation, and street-based prostitution is allowed in some areas. Of course, street-based sex work in New South Wales has been a legal occupation since 1979.”

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