Sex workers took to Sydney's streets on November 13 to demand they be included in discussions about proposed changes to sex work laws. Sex work was decriminalised in New South Wales 13 years ago, bringing many positive changes to sex worker conditions.
A statement by sex worker organisations Scarlett Alliance and Sex Workers Union quoted researcher Christine Harcourt.
"Extensive research over more than 20 years in NSW has shown that decriminalisation together with other health and sex worker community support measures have resulted in excellent sexual health outcomes for sex workers and improved access by community outreach and support agencies", Harcourt said.
"Decriminalisation is the best approach to advance the human rights of sex workers and improve occupational health and safety in the sex industry."
However, sex worker organisations are concerned the NSW government is considering a new "licensing model", which could disadvantage sex workers.
Harcourt said: "International and Australian research has shown that where sex work is regulated by licensing many sex workers are left out of the system, become relatively inaccessible by outreach and health workers because of their 'non-licensed' status and consequently suffer worse health and welfare outcomes than those in the system. By contrast decriminalisation potentially provides a level playing field for all sex workers to improve their conditions."
The press release quoted Melanie of Sydney from the Sex Workers Union: "Workplace conditions are best improved by strengthening workers' ability to address occupational health and safety issues through industrial processes — not by licensing or by giving brothel owners more power over sex workers."
She said: "Sex workers have maintained good work conditions in NSW because of decriminalisation, which allows us a range of workplaces to choose from, whether it be brothel work, private work, escort work, street-based work or internet sex work."
[For more details, visit www.scarletalliance.org.au.]