LACEY CHALMERS — SEX WORKER

In as much detail as possible, please tell me about your experience working as a sex worker in the NT. How long have you been working? How do you find clients?

I started my sex work career in the NT, and have continued to work in the NT over the past four years.

I started with a local agency, meaning I had to register with the police in order to work legally. As I was brand new to the industry, I thought working for an agency would be the safest option, and a good way to learn the ropes, so to speak.

I’m grateful for the experience it gave me, but agency work was definitely not for me. I need the ability to screen my own clients, and only see the ones I feel are safe, work hours that suit my lifestyle and attract the type of clients I prefer.

Agency work has a lot of downsides, and isn’t just about the large portion of the bookings fees that they take.

But if you want to work legally in the NT, this is one of the few ways to do so, and the only way to legally work with other sex workers around.

This option may work for others, just not for me.

Unfortunately, business is always about the bottom line. When you’re engaging in such personal or intimate services, you just can‘t accept every single job.

It’s not only a safety risk, but it can take a huge toll on you physically and mentally.

There are certainly people out there that really shouldn’t be alone with anyone, and a private worker has the ability to turn down those bookings, but in my experience I have found that an agency is a lot less likely to turn it down, as it’s not them that’s going to be alone with that person.

If you don’t have an opportunity for workplace health and safety guidelines for sex workers, and dually a code of practice for agencies and brothels then even as one of your limited legal options in the NT to work with others in an agency as a sex worker were challenged with no tested WHS protections.

The reality often is that some agencies struggle because they cannot register under these laws, then this leaves the door wide open for poor working conditions and a distinct lack of safety.

In saying that, I love my job, and I love my Darwin clients. I’ve worked in many places now, but I always come back to Darwin.

In terms of advertising I tend to find my clients through online advertising, directories, social media such as Twitter, my own website, and even word of mouth.

The problem is, with so many laws that are confusing or cumbersome, it’s very easy for advertisers to take advantage.

They can charge whatever they like, as they know you have very limited options, and there currently isn’t any antidiscrimination protections for workers to prevent the price gouging.

Have you worked in other states and if so — how does that compare with your experience in the NT?

I’ve worked in a lot of states and territories now, with some having full criminalisation (South Australia) some having their own strange framework (Victoria not allowing in calls for example and QLD having the worst advertising laws) and then the partial decriminalisation of NSW.

I offer the same services in each place, only see clients I’m comfortable seeing, but the one big difference is the feeling of safety in a more decriminalised environment.

I don’t have to worry about possibly wording in my online advertising, like the stress if its wrong in another state and then results in myself receiving a fine, or potentially being arrested for what is a consensual exchange of services.

I’m not constantly feeling like I’m looking over my shoulder.

Is this client actually a cop looking to entrap me over something? I shouldn’t have to be afraid of the police for doing my job in a way that’s the safest for me to do it.

Clients know and feel this difference too. In a decriminalised environment, they know that there are less barriers for you in reporting any incidents to the police or seeking any legal recourse.

In South Australia for example, they know you are much less likely to report an assault, because there is the potential you could face charges even as a victim of crime.

The opportunity for people to attempt to blackmail you into things you are not comfortable with is too great and happens far too often.

Whereas in NSW, clients don’t tend to feel like they have something over you.

The power is given back to the worker, where it belongs.

Which is also why it’s so important for full decriminalisation to include every sex worker. That includes those who do street based sex work or migrant workers, or those that work in massage parlours.

If you have a vulnerable population, and the law continues to leave you vulnerable, who exactly is going to benefit from that?

Have you ever felt unsafe working in the NT? If so, please tell me about this incident in as much detail as possible.

I’d imagine any person going to stranger’s houses for work, like social workers or even plumbers, or people who work from home and have clients there, feel potentially unsafe, particularly if you’re a woman. Or arranging a blind date!

What is the advice then? Let someone know where you’ll be.

Check in with someone at the start and end so they know you are OK. Have someone drive you so they know you’re not alone. The big difference is, you can choose to take those safety precautions.

Whereas this is our job, and because of the stigma we face, are at a higher risk, yet the most basic of safety measures are illegal. It makes no sense.

There have been times where I have felt unsafe in a booking. My first thought should not be “how is this going to look and could I be in any trouble?” It should be about making myself safe above everything else, and having the confidence that the police will respond appropriately if necessary.

SWOP NT is calling for a full decriminalisation of sex work in the NT. In as much detail as possible, please tell me how this would improve your safety at work. Would you support fill decriminalisation? Why?

The NT has a real chance here to have a world first, full decriminalisation. South Australia is powering ahead with a lot of support, so they may beat us yet.

In every place that has a version of decriminalisation (nowhere has full decriminalisation yet), the outcomes for sex workers are better.

The statistics in regard to health outcomes, safety outcomes and every other measurable statistic shows that decriminalisation has a plethora of benefits.

New Zealand implemented partial decriminalisation, and their world hasn’t ended.

The issue with the NZ model is who has been left out? Migrant workers are not protected, they are deported in NZ.

I don’t want any model where the police remain the enforcer of our industry. It’s unnecessary and creates a divide, which damages trust and respect.

Full decriminalisation does not mean no rules whatsoever. It just means that we have labour rights, workplace health and safety and anti discrimination protections, that other workers have. It means also business regulations and security at work, We are still bound by the law, they are just the same laws as everyone else.

Full decriminalisation should be important to everyone in the NT, as it offers protections to some of our most vulnerable populations.

In your opinion, why is it important (for both workers and clients) for to be able to advertise your services?

Have you ever tried selling anything on gumtree, or Facebook marketplace? It’s a nightmare

right? Now imagine you can only post that you have something for sale, but not what. People

can message and ask you “Hey do you have a dining table for sale” and only then you cant

actually say what you have. Does that send shivers down your spine? Well welcome to

advertising in the sex industry when you don’t have full decriminalisation.

It’s even more important when you’re dealing with the issue of consent. It’s a highly personalised service, each service provider is different and offers different things.

If you can clearly state what it is you do and what you do not do, clients can find what they want, and there is no confusion or miscommunication during the booking.

Clear expectations and boundaries is integral to safety.

Once again, decriminalisation does not mean a free for all. It doesn’t mean we can start advertising in the local school newsletter.

But if an adult has deliberately gone to an adult website to find a service provider, I think we are past the stage of playing coy.

In terms of advertising from a clients perspective, imagine you needed to hire a lawyer.

But lawyers aren’t allowed to say what area of law they specialise in.

So you’ve called 20 offices and spoken to many exasperated receptionists answering the same inane questions day in and day out, and have only managed to find family law solicitors and not the corporate one you need. It’s an unnecessary waste of everyone’s time.

On the topic of registration — exactly what did you have to tell the NT Police (hair colour, weight etc) when you registered. How did this make you feel? Has this ever had a negative experience in your life? Have you had any negative experience dealing with the police?

When I first started I was very naive to the whole registration thing. I was told it’s just something you have to do if you want to work in the industry.

Nobody explained how it works, who has access to the database, when that information will be accessed, what reasons it would be accessed and how long you’ll have it on your file.

I was not told about the other workers who had faced serious repercussions because of a permanent scarlet letter branding your official existence.

Now every time I apply for a criminal history check, I hope it doesn’t show up. Or if I apply for a working with children’s card, will it be rejected because of sex work?

Is this going to be used in family court?

Will the police treat me differently if I need to report something completely unrelated to my

work? It constantly hangs over your head.

The process felt a lot like registering your dog, and was very dehumanising. They wanted to know if you had any tattoos, any scars, anything identifiable about your body.

It felt like they were planning on having to identify a corpse. Super reassuring.

Anything else you’d like to add.

Sex work makes some people feel uncomfortable, some people don’t like the idea of it at all.

That’s fine, you can examine those things in your own time, you don’t need to participate in the sex industry.

A lot of that is based on stereotypes or just plain wrong information. If you’re not into sex as a service, cool, but don’t legislate away our bodies, choices, autonomy and safety.

We need this. We don’t need you to be our personal cheerleaders (though I’m not stopping you) we just need all of our peers to have basic human rights.

JESSIE — SEX WORKER

I’m 34, I worked as a private sex worker in the NT, many moons ago.

I choose not to work for an agency as I didn’t believe it was fair or just to register myself, my tattoos, my real hair colour to the police since I wasn’t breaking the law.

This choice prevented me from working with security, a driver and a group of woman, men and trans workers who shared my experience at the time.

I had no faith that the police record would be confidential.

Darwin is small, and people have big mouths. I have never had any interactions with police and don’t have any criminal records.

Just because you’re a sex worker once in your life, doesn’t mean it should hinder any other future aspirations.

I had been working for over a decade in many other states before working in the NT.

I felt unsafe working in the NT.

As a private worker, it was illegal for me to share a hotel room with another worker, offer doubles (two woman or a couple for couple service) or work from my home — however I did all of those things

more than once in my 4 year stint in the NT. If things didn’t run smoothly when I was doing one of these things, I would hesitate in calling the police as I feared being prosecuted or not having the matter dealt with seriously as I was a sex worker.

Working alone was incredibly isolating both physically and mentally as it was just you and the client. I tried not to work after midnight, against my gut instinct and when clients had been drinking to try to minimise any unsafe situations, I would call another worker for security however sometimes I remember feeling that was not always

enough.

I am 100 per cent in support of full decriminalisation of the industry in the NT. So as workers, we have equal workplace rights, we feel comfortable to go to the police like any other citizen in our community.

We are not making an unreasonable request. We as sex workers are asking to be treated like any other worker.

Sex work is work and we deserve to also be able to work without the stigma and discrimination of criminalising laws.

When I was younger I worked in Adelaide illegally. Either escorting or from a house. It was before the internet changed things.

The client had the power over us at all times, because of the laws. We need to be progressive and change the laws.

Adelaide’s laws still fully criminalise the industry, but the work continues, just like in the NT,

unsafely.

Removing the restrictions on advertising is important so we can explain our specialities, and our service, discreetly.

Then it doesn’t waste the time of the client or yourself. Should be the same standard as if you were offering a trade.

You should be able to explain rates, ethnicity, location, etc

I never registered with the police, as I felt that may have blemished my clean police record that I have still maintained.

I have seen the registration form and was horrified at how a government form like that is even legal.

Please change these laws before the election, it’s better for our community and it’s 2019 so I think it’s beyond time to do so.

SLOAN — SEX WORKER

In as much detail as possible, please tell me about your experience working as a sex worker in the NT. How long have you been working? How do you find clients?

I love working up here. It’s been a great experience, I really love the clients and I have a lot or regulars and return clientele, they are all pretty chilled and we just have a good old time.

I’ve been coming for five years.

Have you worked in other states and if so — how does that compare with your experience in the NT?

Yes I’ve worked in Queensland, WA, VIC and NSW I like where I am working here, the money, establishment and management are pretty awesome.

It’s been good. Only thing it’s not legal and I can’t claim my money here as a subcontractor because the set up and laws are very different, and when I first came here I was on my own and didn’t know how it all worked, went to an agency worked a week but they told me I had to register with the police so I left them and was working by myself.

Then I found the place I’m working now been here two years. I still keep coming back

I love the place.

Have you ever felt unsafe working in the NT? If so, please tell me about this incident in as much detail as possible.

There have been a few times when I was private with dodgy characters one stole the money after he paid me, he saw where I had hidden it, I put it away when I though he was in the shower but well obviously he saw my hiding spot, ironically I worked out he stole it after we finished the booking, while I was having a shower.

Another guy tried to force himself on me without a condom but I got out of the situation thankfully and he left. I guess I was lucky.

Nothing since then.

SWOP NT is calling for a full decriminalisation of sex work in the NT. In as much detail as possible, please tell me how this would improve your safety at work. Would you support fill decriminalisation? Why?

One hundred per cent I’m in, I support it fully, everywhere else I’ve worked its different all over the place in other states like NSW its been nearly decriminalised.

Here in NT there are these useless old laws that protect no one, I just want to go to work and not feel like a criminal, I want to feel valid as a worker, the same way I feel when I go to work in other states.

In your opinion, why is it important (for both workers and clients) for to be able to advertise your services?

In this day of age, advertising is everything, there are no walk in parlours; or brothels here where guys can go and see who’s available and have a chat and choose services of mainly women, without placing adds and being able to describe yourself in accurate detail and your services how are we supposed to make money?

On the topic of registration — exactly what did you have to tell the NT Police (hair colour,

weight etc) when you registered. How did this make you feel? Has this ever had a negative experience in your life? Have you had any negative experience dealing with the police?

I’m not registered. I don’t know where that info goes, how long it stays on file — I’m a mother and have further plans for my life I don’t want that haunting me as a lifelong status.

Anything else you’d like to add.

We are all adults here. On both sides clients and workers. Were offering very needed services, we shouldn’t be condemned as or to be seen as criminal for going to work, it’s just not right. I have men who have sought my touch who wanted to commit suicide or who were deeply depressed, I’ve helped them through and have watched them blossom, these are men who said that they would never see a councillor or get any other help, but we are here.

It’s not just about sex … we have a place in society.

CAMERON — SEX WORKER

In as much detail as possible, please tell me about your experience working as a sex worker in the NT. How long have you been working? How do you find clients?

My sex work is currently part time and I work in a range of Australian cities, often when my

full-time Job takes me to those cities.

I have been involved in sex work for over 40 years and I most of my sex work is currently repeat business although I do sometimes advertise on selected internet hook up apps.

Have you worked in other states and if so — how does that compare with your

experience in the NT?

I have worked in all states of Australia. I am based in NSW because that is the only place

where sex work is decriminalised.

There is a huge difference for me between NSW and NT and the other states of Australia.

NSW is the only place where I know that police will help me rather than arrest me if I go to them for help.

It is also the only place where I feel safe and supported by the government and services such as health and where I can access support in the same way that any other worker can access support.

Have you ever felt unsafe working in the NT? If so, please tell me about this incident in as much detail as possible.

I constantly feel unsafe in NT and never spend more than five consecutive days here sex

working. I know that in the NT I am constantly vulnerable to blackmail, coercion and violence with my occupation being constantly vilified and misrepresented in media.

I also cannot go to police as the NT law says ‘arrange or organise the service from the same place as where the service is provided’ which effectively forces me have two places of business which doubles my costs and is not as far as I know required of any other NT business.

If I book from my premises and go to the clients premises to sex work I am entering premises that I have no idea of layout and are controlled by someone I may not have even met.

I also cannot work with another sex worker which cuts of a significant portion of my income

and further compromises my safety.

I also cannot hire staff for any purpose whether it be doing my books and tax or providing security or driver services.

I have so far managed to avoid any incidents around my safety but many sex workers I know

here in the NT have not.

However the majority of sex workers are not lucky enough to be 6ft tall, male with a full time non sex working job that allows them decline work that has even the smallest hint of risk.

SWOP NT is calling for a full decriminalisation of sex work in the NT. In as much detail as possible, please tell me how this would improve your safety at work. Would you support full decriminalisation? Why?

I had the dubious privilege of working in NSW when sex work there was criminalised. It was a wild, lawless and dangerous environment to work in.

However literally within weeks of sex work in NSW being decriminalised sex work in NSW came to be regulated in the same way as other types of work were in NSW and the violence and lawlessness that had existed just melted away and never returned.

• It allows me to choose and control my own workspace and the manner in which I work
• It allows me a wide choice of workplaces and the ability to move freely between them
• It allows me to make the arrangements that are best for me with regard to my work, health and safety
• It provides me with the same protection by and recourse to police as other citizens
• It allows me access to the normal regulators of work and safety as available to all other
• Australian workers

In your opinion, why is it important (for both workers and clients) for to be able

to advertise your services?

Why is it important for any business to be able to advertise? Its not important it is essential.

All businesses must be able to make potential clients aware of their services, location, contact

details etc in order to exist.

Bans on advertising do not eradicate sex work or sex workers but they do restrict sex workers choices around safety dramatically.

No other businesses that I know of are banned from advertising outright or are as severely

restricted in advertising as sex workers and even if our advertising was “unrestricted” it would

still be regulated in the same way as all other business advertising is regulated.

On the topic of registration — exactly what did you have to tell the NT Police (hair colour, weight etc) when you registered. How did this make you feel? Has this ever had a negative experience in your life? Have you had any negative experience dealing with the police?

I have not and will not register in any state in which I work.

I oppose registration of any

worker by police and I would ask you to think how you would feel if you had to go to the cop shop and register for no good reason every time you changed jobs.

Working by myself as a private escort I am not required to register but my refusal to register severely restricts my access to work in that I cannot get agency work.

Anything else you’d like to add.

Yes, there is I would like to add that the work I do as a sex worker has value. 

This value is continually proved to me not only by the money that people pay for my services, but also by the smiles on the faces of my clients as they leave, the fact that they return time and time again for many years, the fact that being able to talk in a safe and confidential space I believe has saved many of my clients marriages and relationships.

I know this by the postcards they send me when on holiday, the random messages on

Facebook and now as I age along with my clients the invitations to their funerals that I now

receive, often sent by their surviving partner or family.

Why then, when my work has such value am I criminalised, stigmatised and discriminated

against by my government and fellow citizens?

I pay my taxes, I have a partner and family that I love and who love me. A dog, a mortgage

and concerns about the future for our children. 

But I do not have the same rights to work, health and safety as other Australians, only in NSW can I be sure that approaching police won’t automatically result in my own arrest and

nowhere in the country of the fair go that I love so dearly do I have my full human rights.

IVY — ATTEMPTED PARLOUR OWNER

We attempted to begin our business in late 2016.

Our first, and almost unbelievable hurdle was a major bank asking us what industry the new business was going to be recorded under.

We transparently advised as an Escort Agency, to our horror we were shamed and discriminated against, as we were told by the bank that ‘we don’t allow that kind of business here’.

Fortunately, we found a bank to assist us and then began the final compliance processes with NT licencing and the NT Police.

Our work plans and contracts for escort workers, drivers and receptionists/managers were approved, however we continued to hit one hurdle after another with licencing.

Every time we addressed one of the Departments ‘issue’s’ they came up with another ‘modification of the terms ‘of the licence.

In the end we began to feel like we were the first agency to apply for legal representation and registration with the then newly changed over NT Licensing division that had merged into the Department of Business, it felt like they had no idea about the issues or what we were required to do.

We complied with every requirement the department asked, which cost us a great deal of time and money.

After about 12 months, the final straw was for us, was when the department requested for certification that we had taken on a 12 month lease at commercial premises to conduct our ‘office work’, which would have been $1200 per week as an incurred cost.

This was ridiculous as we had not even begun to trade and had no definite idea of foreseeable or immediate income.

So in combination with feeling very unethical requesting sex workers to register for life with the police and what we felt were unreasonable and discriminating terms of licence, we gave up.

Interestingly at one meeting we attended, I said to the board at licencing that we should just operate ‘illegally; like everyone else in the NT’ and one lady responded by saying ‘you might as well, it’d be easier!’

Not pursuing further our business compliance was much to our disappointment as we had met some wonderful people who were keen to work with us as employees and or as subcontractors.

Our vision was for a work environment of safety and flexibility for workers.

Our contract conditions proposed for workers, included flexible shifts, sick pay, holiday pay and long service leave, workers compensation and superannuation.

We investigated the very real possibility of health insurance for workers that would have enabled no out of pocket expenses for health checks.

Physical health and mental health for workers is so important and for escort workers as a component of work conditions a part of ‘normal’ work arrangements.

The only condition escort workers who were considering working with us did not like, was the compulsory “declaration of a prostitute form” and what consequences the certificate of registration would bring upon them in future.

Additionally any general reporting of crimes to police was feared that registration disclosure would add another environment for further stigma.

Two of our main concerns for our prospective employees were; the issue of anonymity and more so, in the event of an assault the altered view the employee would have placed upon them for working in the sex industry when reporting the assault to police, as stands our employee would be seen as a criminal.

DIOR — OWNER ‘PRECIOUS MOMENTS’

Tell me about how long you have been trading in the NT. What services do you offer? How many people do you employ? How many clients do you see in a typical week?

I’ve been in and out of the industry for 18 years, working in the NT for 10 years and trading in the NT for two years.

I have around 35 ladies on my books that currently work for me … we offer a range of services, full service, the girlfriend experience, cater to clients with disability, fetish and BDSM, all workers are women who choose what services they are comfortable providing.

We as a business only offer 100 per cent safe sexual services, to ensure best practice that includes also the oral services.

All workers (ladies) are able to identify potential risks at work, this is because of their high level of knowledge and awareness in the prevention of STIs and therefore have an understanding of maintaining good sexual health, via regular health checks.

The ladies who work with us are required to abide by agreements to work in safe work environments and maintain safe work practices.

We provide a service to between 30-100 clients weekly, depending on how many ladies are able to work at the time.

Generally there are usually three ladies on tour. It is relevant to state that all of my staff are FIFO workers.

Is it challenging to work at the moment in the NT? Have any of your workers raised any concerns you’d like to share with us.

I have many woman who would like to relocate, or travel to the NT more often, that are working towards paying for studies or a house, debts etc but due to the high cost of flights and accommodation, advertising and working around their own needs for allocated timeslots it becomes impossible.

I am only able to accommodate three ladies as workers at a time, they usually stay 10 days to

three weeks max, so all ladies get a chance to make living, but I have many woman begging me daily that they want to come work, that prefer work in the NT above other places.

I believe that FIFO workers wish to come to work here partly due to the stigma that comes with the job as flying in and out assists with maintaining privacy and that’s why the ladies like to travel for work, and also due to the conditions I provide.

Women who work with myself are well looked after in a very clean and safe environment as should be, as a stand-alone standard.

But I feel that it is important to have a space for workers to connect with each other among other females in an environment of empowerment.

I try to help as much as I can to ensure as workers women have the right information to try and invest, work towards other goals, travel, save, start their own business and follow their dreams if they are not already aware and also to help set them up for better living and lifestyles, but it is hard for us and myself to create a legitimate business with the same, banking credibility, mortgages and tax options, legal wages for other staff like drivers and receptionist is not possible also and makes running the business very hard.

I continue because the need for a safe place for ladies to work is very real and present. Working privately is not for everyone, some workers prefer but some do not, their needs to be valid safe working spaces that women who work in this area are able to feel comfortable with. The cost for private workers is also high, the costs and many times loss of money with high prices and quiet periods and the isolation and also the safety factor.

Many women who work with me have been private and say that they prefer to just do the job without having to do all the admin side, set up answering phones and driving.

SWOP NT is calling for a full decriminalisation of sex work in the NT. In as much detail as possible, please tell me why this is — and how this will benefit sex workers in the NT.

I think many other states are aiming for this policy already and it works, it is in place in NSW, but not quiet fully yet.

There are many people earning a living via the sex industry, from erotic massage, erotic xxx dancers, escorts, brothel work.

It’s one of the oldest industries and it’; s not going away anytime soon, if at all.

When I was a sex worker and adult entertainer myself in Canberra, Perth and Victoria we wanted to be afforded the same rights and benefits as any other worker, I knew my rights, I could say no, there are maximum hours one can work, in some states like Victoria alcohol is banned, there are stipulations in place to protect and benefit us.

Also it was easy for me to rent a property with proof of my income, I had my car loan approved etc.

In the NT this is not so easy due to criminalisation, I can’t offer salary to my staff, there is no liability, or proof of credit history.

For women to work in a safe environment here they must register with the police to work in a legal escort agency.

No lady wants to be registered with the police in such a manner. But if they go solo it’s not mandatory? Makes no sense to me, it doesn’t protect those who need it and if women are unable to register then the system shuts down those doing the right thing, so we work outside the law to be safe and maintain privacy with each other.

I continue because it’s necessary and I like to see people prosper, get somewhere in life via a path they have chosen in the safest and happiest manner.

I do suffer with legalities and being able to legitimise my own existence.

It makes life very tough.

If I were to stop, the industry would continue still, with or without my input but I hate to think of some of the situations woman would be forced into with lack of options and no legal support or workers’ rights.

Tell me about the safety fears you have for sex workers in the NT.

Safety fears I have … well without good businesses representing, guiding and helping the workers, it definitely leaves woman vulnerable to a lot of different things.

Theft- being robbed of their money, drugging or assaults, workers hiding making too much money and having no ability to disclose through criminalisation the ability for choices for proper channels to dispense it.

Criminalisation hides women who are working alone and due to not being visible or supported by others or hiding because of stigma they are much more vulnerable to contracting and spreading STIs because of lack of information and without peer education and training they also do not get an opportunity to have awareness of safe sexual practices.

I believe that this also makes those workers vulnerable to also being forced into such acts by clients, poverty desperation and depression through not having the availability of places to work from are also factors and trying to earn a living while dealing with

prejudice alone with no support network.

Also for many woman trying to do this work on their own as FIFO paying upfront for one or two trips, may work out great, but the next trip may only pay for a room and flights, and then costs of advertising and when those ladies find it’s a quiet week, they end up being stuck in a foreign place with no way out, with no money and nowhere else to work.

This can lead to all sorts of problems. In other states there are many options for woman to work that they can find and access easily. NSW has the most options for everyone to work.

Is there anything we should know about sex work in the NT — any details or information we should know about the industry?

My personal journey and those of the ladies that I work with has been a positive and uplifting one.

I have made many lifelong friends, with other ladies and long-term clients.

We have a real bond and sense of family and everyone is happy to get up and go to work, make a dollar in a fun environment and one of learning, personal growth and exploration.

I have known women who work as escorts that have graduated university, some now lawyers, some who have entered into the medical profession, law enforcement, teaching, with PhDs, MBAs, some who met their partners and have started new happy families, travelled the world, got the job they always wanted, some happy and still working with me today that I’ve known for over 10 years. It’s been a positive ride.

Why is it important (for both workers and clients) for sex workers to be able to advertise their services?

We need to have as much clarity and truth in advertising as possible, to avoid any dissatisfaction, arguments or unhappy clients and workers.

People have specific needs and desires, they don’t want to waste their time and money going from place to place searching only to be disappointed and leave a foul taste and a bad attitude towards the next person they try to engage with due to miscommunication, misinformation or not enough or false information.

It makes life easier for both parties to have the specifics and services known and much easier for us to create business and tailor to the correct clientele.

Also advertising honestly and locally for local staff is impossible due to the regulations, thus increasing costs.

Workers who come from other Australian jurisdictions are often confused by the NT’s laws. Tell me about this, in your own words. How is this a problem?

Many workers hear stories about the NT laws and hear about the registration, or it’s illegal and those that do come work in fear thinking they are alone and without out a voice.

But they also hear the good stories of ladies that have worked here and take a chance and so many still do want to work here.

Some ladies who work as escorts feel there are not many options for them or outlets but know the money and clientele are good and take the risk of being invisible and hope for the best.

It is all very confusing the way it’s presented at the moment, it’; s pages and pages of information the main points and how legal it is gets lost and can become overwhelming for someone looking into for the first time on their own accord.

These laws are confusing we need visibility and good work health and safety and laws that we can operate in and for the ladies who work with me, less stigma and more respect for going to work.