Protesting sex workers demand laws to decriminalise prostitution

SEX workers are calling for MPs to reintroduce legislation to state Parliament that would decriminalise prostitution.

SEX workers are calling for MPs to reintroduce legislation to state Parliament that would decriminalise prostitution.

About 60 sex workers rallied on the steps of Parliament House on Tuesday to commemorate International Sex Workers’ Day.

Sex Industry Network SA spokeswoman Ari Reid said current laws dated back to the 1930s and “don’t work, by anybody’s measure”.

“They make us really unsafe,” Ms Reid said.

“We’re too busy evading the police that we can’t look after our safety. It’s difficult for us to report crimes against us. Our employers have no responsibility to provide us a safe workplace.”

Labor backbencher Steph Key introduced her most recent attempt to decriminalise all forms of sex work — including street work, at home, in brothels and through escort services — to Parliament in June last year.

However, her Bill lapsed when Parliament was prorogued over the Summer break.

A Bill by Ms Key in 2012, which was defeated by one vote, kept street work an offence.

It is believed there are about 1000 sex workers in South Australia but few working on the streets.

Greens MLC Tammy Franks said South Australia had “the most archaic sex work laws in the country”.

She said she was working with MPs, including Ms Key, to ensure sex work would be decriminalised by the end of the year.

“The very first day of 2015 started with the murder of a sex worker in secret and in silence,” Ms Franks said.

“She was silenced not only by her death, but also by her profession.

“We need law reform. We’ve had a few false starts, but we are lagging behind every other state and territory in Australia.

“I am heartened by the commitment of my colleagues across party lines on this issue.”