Review lays bare differing views
A NEW review of the world’s oldest profession is under way in Victoria, laying bare the passionate battle of ideas over how to handle sex work.
Talks with the industry started this week as part of the state’s review into decriminalising sex work, the precursor to a 2021 legislative overhaul. Sex worker rights groups have long wanted decriminalisation, as has review leader Reason Party MP Fiona Patten, who was a sex worker 30 years ago.
A key aim is to bring vulnerable street and independent workers into the law, making it safer for them to report crimes without fear of arrest. But opponents say decriminalisation will give open slather to those who profit from sex workers and cannot prevent exploitation and violence.
“This is the bit that the public doesn’t understand, is that it is decriminalising every pimp,” former sex worker Sabrinna Valisce said.
Ms Valisce worked in New Zealand before and after decriminalisation was legislated there in 2003. She initially campaigned for it but became disillusioned. “There (are) myths about healthcare plans and being able to go to police,” she said. “Where there’s some kind of back-up, superannuation — all that kind of stuff. Absolutely none of it happens.”
Ms Valisce hoped to make a submission to the Victorian review through her organisations PEACE and SPACE International, but her contribution was turned down.
Former sex worker Genevieve Gilbert runs Pink Cross Australia, a charity that helps people exit the sex industry. Traumatised by her own experiences, she thinks the Victorian government is not getting the full picture and wants funding for specialised exit programs to link people with mental health, social and welfare services, as well as publicly-funded warnings of the risks of sex work, like for smoking and alcohol.
“When anyone buys a woman for sex, it is an act of coercion and violence,” Ms Gilbert said. “That’s what no one gets in the Andrews government. They need to hear this loud and clear.”
Another former sex worker, Simone Watson, campaigns for legislation commonly called the Nordic model, pioneered in Sweden and adopted by at least eight other countries. It criminalises the sex buyer but not the seller. Ms Watson contacted the review to contribute, but got no reply.
The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women Australia has been accepted into the review but said it could be a challenge to contribute alternative views.
“It’s clear the review wants as little opposition as possible, just enough to say they heard alternative voices,” spokeswoman
Tegan Larin said.
Estelle Lucas, who runs online platform for Australian sex workers Red
Files, said decriminalisation is long overdue and is a “no-brainer” to save sex worker lives.
The review was delayed for six weeks due to COVID-19, but private consultations via
Zoom have begun.
Consumer Affairs
Minister Marlene
Kairouz said because of the “strongly held, differing views” the sex work review would get input “from all relevant experts”.
A confidential report will be submitted in
August to inform new laws, expected to be introduced to parliament next year.