The Queensland government is set to decriminalise sex work, twelve months after the landmark Queensland Law Reform Commission review was published, which made 47 recommendations.
Queensland Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said the state is set to sign off on new legislation today in anticipation of regulating businesses and the industry.
“The Palaszczuk Government broadly supports the QLRC’s recommendations and is committed to decriminalising the sex work industry – improving safety for workers while meeting the expectations of the community,” the Attorney-General said in a statement.
“As part of its review, the QLRC found that a majority of submissions from across the State were overwhelmingly opposed to any continued criminal law specifically targeting sex workers.”
“The Law Reform Commission found that the current laws stigmatise sex workers, increase their vulnerability to exploitation and violence and fail to protect their human rights.”
“The review has provided the opportunity to consider how best to modernise our laws, support business in the state, and reduce discrimination and stigma associated with workers in the sex work industry. We will now consider how to best implement laws and regulations that will afford sex workers the same rights and legal protections as any other business or industry.”
Before today, legal sex work was restricted to services offered by a person working alone from a premise or giving in-house calls.
Other services including escort agencies,massage parlours, unlicensed brothels, street workers and working in small groups are illegal.
Mish Pony, CEO of Scarlet Alliance at the Australian Sex Workers Association, welcomed the latest news, saying “Decriminalisation is a cost-effective, high compliance model for government and supports workplace health, safety and rights for sex workers.”
On Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated on KIIS FM that individual states determine the laws around sex work.
“The states look after all of that,” he said.
“But clearly criminalising prostitution doesn’t really work – it just drives it underground and leads to worse behaviour and worse treatment of people involved in what can be a dangerous industry.”
New South Wales, the ACT, Northern Territory and Victoria have decriminalised sex work — to varying degrees.
Comparatively, Tasmania and South Australia have restrictive legislations around sex work, while in Western Australia, it is illegal to carry out street-based sex work and most prostitution-related activities are illegal.