Sex workers welcome law change allowing them to lawfully work in NT suburbs
SEX workers and advocacy groups have welcomed changes to the Planning Act allowing sex work to be undertaken lawfully from suburban homes.
Northern Territory
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SEX workers and advocacy groups have welcomed changes to the Planning Act allowing sex work to be undertaken lawfully from suburban homes.
The amendment, which was passed on May 27, allows sex workers to operate from homes granted the dwelling is not next to or directly opposite a school, childcare service or place of worship.
Scarlet Alliance Australian Sex Workers Association chief executive Jules Kim said while there were fears and a general misunderstanding of how sex workers operated, Territorians appreciated the need for sex workers to have the same access to workplace health and safety regulations.
“This legislation’s intention builds on decades of advocacy and activism by sex workers and supporters on this issue,” Ms Kim said.
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“Sex workers have been operating discreetly from home business together for decades without negative impact.
“Territorians have demonstrated that they appreciate and understand that sex workers in the NT need to have opportunity to access work health and safety and other industrial rights and ability to operate business as subcontractors, as employees and or as sole traders/private workers.”
Clarissa, a private sex worker who operates from home, said the changes meant she had access to the same workplace health and safety protections as any other Territorian.
“For myself, to be able to work and be treated with respect through the decriminalisation of my work, provides me with access to the same workplace health and safety protections as other Territorians,” she said.
“I am so pleased, on the outset nothing will change, my services will remain the same, my clientele is established and discreet, but personally I will have rights and that is essential to my wellbeing.”
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Sex Worker Outreach Program NT, a peer-based health promotion service for sex workers, also supported changes to the legislation.
SWOP NT co-ordinator Leanne Melling said the changes provided inclusivity for all sex service businesses.
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