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Sex Work - Australian Sex Party Victorian Policy |
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Written by ASP Staff
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Key Policies:
- Decriminalise the sex industry
- Establish an advocacy organisation to protect the rights and interests of sex workers, funded by the state but operating independently
- Bring regulation of sex workers into line with regulation of other industries
It is time for a new approach to Sex Work. The Australian Sex Party’s Sex Work Policy is a response to the insufficient recognition and protection of sex workers’ civil liberties and human rights.
Our Sex Work policy incorporates best-practice recommendations from sex worker organisations, health agencies and human rights advocates.
Decriminalise the sex industry
Decriminalisation is the internationally recognised best practice model of sex industry regulation. Pursuing this model, the Australian Sex Party will:
- Restrict sex industry-specific legislation to administration and enforcement of licensing
- Explore options for the management of street sex work
- Overturn the registration requirements that apply to private workers
- Exempt private workers from brothel planning restrictions
- Abolish mandatory STI testing regimes
- Delineate “illegal brothels” into specific categories and establish enforcement models that are appropriate to specific types
It is time for a new approach to Sex Work. The Prostitution Control Act 1994 and the Prostitution Control Regulations 2006 have failed to achieve their stated objectives and should be regarded as legislation covering the transition of sex work from an illegal to a fully decriminalised activity.
Establish an advocacy organisation to protect the rights and interest of sex workers
Progress toward equality is achieved when communities can advocate on their own behalf.
The establishment of a representative entity that is highly engaged with sex workers will provide consultation, education and advocacy to government and the broader community. Government funding for this organisation will facilitate education and service provision on a range of issues, including health and rights enforcement.
The Australian Sex Party commits:
- To advocate for the establishment of a state-funded sex worker organisation
- To ensure community consultation occurs in the planning and implementation of government policy that impacts upon sex workers
- To empower the sex worker community to challenge exploitation, high risk behaviour, and threats to occupational rights
Bring regulation of sex workers into line with regulation of other industries
Regulation of the sex industry must not be onerous or unreasonable.
The Australian Sex Party will:
- Remove vexatious and discriminatory regulations, including advertising and planning restrictions
- Amend the Victorian Charter of Human Rights to protect sex workers from discrimination
In contrast to regulations that attempt to confine the industry, the working conditions of sex workers are currently poorly or under-regulated. To extend the protection enjoyed by most Victorians to sex workers, the Australian Sex Party will:
- Restrict the role of Consumer Affairs to licensing and related enforcement
- Enlist WorkSafe and the Department of Health to provide additional regulatory and industry support
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