Victorian sex workers win in major law reform

Sex work will be decriminalised in Victoria under a reform that has been hailed “a red letter day for the red light industry”.

The reforms were made to ensure sex work could become safe work.

Sex work will be decriminalised in Victoria, ensuring sex workers have access to the same rights as any other employee.

A range of reforms will be implemented over the next two years to increase safety, reduce stigma and improve access to government health and justice services.

Workplace Safety Minister Ingrid Stitt said the changes were made to ensure that sex work could become safe work.

“We know under the current system far too many sex workers are falling through the cracks and not being afforded the protections that they deserve,” Ms Stitt said.

Victorian sex workers will have the same access to rights as other employees.

The changes bring Victoria into line with other jurisdictions – including New South Wales, who successfully decriminalised sex work in 1995.

Consumer Affairs Minister Melissa Horne said the current sex work regulatory system – which has not been updated for close to three decades – is out-of-date and no longer fit-for-purpose.

“Every Victorian deserves to feel safe in their place of work – decriminalisation will ensure that sex work is safe work and go a long way towards breaking down the stigma sex workers continue to experience,” Ms Horne said.

Only sex work between consenting adults will be decriminalised, meaning criminal offences that protect children and workers from coercion and address other forms of non-consensual sex work will continue to be enforced by state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Reason Party leader Fiona Patten said the reform was “a case of making the world better by removing a discriminatory law”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

The breakthrough comes after Reason Party leader, and Northern Metropolitan Region MP, Fiona Patten was tasked with leading a targeted review of sex work regulation in 2019.

After considering the recommendations out of Ms Patten’s review, the state government will:

• Remove offences and criminal penalties for consensual sex work and repealing public health offences

• Repeal the Sex Work Act 1994 to instead regulate sex work through existing government agencies and business regulation

• Update and modernise planning, public health and anti-discrimination laws to support a decriminalised system.

Ms Patten said the new laws would allow sex workers to make a “true profession” out of their work.

It will allow them to pay tax, demand better conditions and be more open with their friends and family about what they do.

“This is a red letter day for the red light industry,” Ms Patten said.

“This is a case of making the world better by removing a discriminatory law, not imposing a new law. It simply extends to all sex workers the occupational health and safety, welfare and taxation coverage of any other employee.

“This will protect these workers and reduce the stigma and discrimination they have for so long endured.”