- Media Releases

"HIV is a virus not a crime" Australian HIV Orgs Respond, 19 September 2008

"Australian HIV Organisations today demand decriminalisation of HIV, including sex work," Janelle Fawkes, CEO Scarlet Alliance, the Australian Sex Workers Association said today.

Decision to jail HIV positive sex worker by ACT magistrate John Burns appalling, says Australian Sex Workers Association, 16th September 2008

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"Tasmanian sex workers need better services." Scarlet Alliance, 20 August 2008

Scarlet Alliance, The Australian Sex Workers Association, is holding a community forum in Hobart on Friday August 22 to promote the need for better services for sex workers in Tasmania.

Scarlet Alliance Media Release: "Cambodian Sex Workers face Anti-Trafficking Violence" 23 June 08

A crisis in anti-trafficking measures in Cambodia has resulted in violence, rape and the deaths of sex workers in detention centres. As a result, the national HIV prevention programs for sex workers have completely broken down. Sex workers hold a vigil outside the Cambodian Embassy in Canberra, 24th June 2008.

"South Australia Red Umbrella Event" Friday June 6th 2008, 5pm

As Part of International Whores Day, SIN is proud to support a red umbrella event.

Scarlet Alliance Media Brief "Australias Anti-Trafficking Responses" 10 April 2008

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"VICTORIAN SEX WORKERS JOIN NATIONAL CONDEMNATION OF ACT GOVERNMENT" 12 Feb 08

VIXEN, the Victorian Sex Industry Network, condemns the actions of the ACT government in relation to the recent charges against a male sex worker. VIXEN spokesperson Ms Tamsin Baker said, “The decision by the ACT’s Chief Health Officer, Charles Guest, to publicly identify the man, his home suburb, his occupation as a sex worker and his health condition is a violation of public health protocols as well as a violation of an individual’s right to privacy. Victorian sex workers believe that these actions fuel stigma and discrimination against individuals who work in the sex industry and people affected by HIV/AIDS.’

"SEX WORK POSES NO RISK: Money Is Not A Health Risk" 7 Feb 08

Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association, calls for changes to S. 25 of the ACT Prostitution Act and an investigation into actions by health officials in relation to this case.

"Pos Worker Won't Get Fair Trial" 31 Jan 08

Recently a male sex worker was charged in the ACT under the Prostitution Act on two accounts. “At this stage we do not know if the person is guilty of the charges laid. Mr Scott has pleaded not guilty and deserves and is entitled to a fair trial.” Janelle Fawkes, CEO, Scarlet Alliance.

"Sex Workers Come Out Against Corrupt, Anti-Competition Closure Laws" Scarlet Alliance, 13 Dec 07

The 5th International Day To End Violence Against Sex Workers is being marked in Australia with sex workers speaking out against contemporary brothel closure laws, introduced in NSW in July, and currently being discussed in Victoria.

National Sex Worker Conference Condemns Recent Amendments to WA Legislation

"Current debate informed by myths and misinformation"

"AUSTRALIAN SEX WORK EXPERTS DENOUNCE ANTI- SEX WORKER LOBBYIST EKBERT AND THE SWEDISH LAWS" 20 September 2007

European paid lobbyists who have flown in to oppose WA’s clearer approach to the sex industry are making unsubstantiated claims about the outcome of decriminalisation. “As the Australian experts on sex work, Scarlet Alliance suggests that Ms Ekbert brush up on the issues facing sex workers in her own country before she comes here to tell us what’s best for the occupational health and safety of sex workers in Australia.”

"Scarlet Alliance responds to Chris Seage, Crikey.com, 16 May 2007

Scarlet Alliance would appreciate the opportunity to respond to some of the allegations made in a recent Crikey.com article by ABA representative, Chris Seage.....

"Advocates Criticize Moralistic Policy That Randall Tobias Enforced" Melissa Dittmore (NSWP) and Juhu Thukral (SWP), 1 May 2007

(New York City, May 1, 2007) Randall Tobias retired from his position as Director of U. S. Foreign Assistance and Administrator for the U. S. Agency for international Development (USAID) after being implicated in a prostitution scandal. The irony is that Tobias was the chief enforcer and mouthpiece of the Anti-Prostitution Pledge, which requires USAID grantees, among others, to denounce prostitutes the very people whom they are trying to empower and serve. As advocates for the health and human rights of sex workers, we are not interested in Randall Tobias's personal life. However, the recent revelations about his connections to an escort agency that operated in Washington DC provide an opportunity to reflect on the ineffective and morality-driven policies that he enforced.

"Response to WA Law Reform Working Group Report" 2 March 2007

Congratulations to the Prostitution Law Reform Working Group 2007. Scarlet Alliance recognises the approach of the Working Group as vastly more considerate of sex worker issues than that of previous Western Australian Governments. The report is a move in the right direction by the WA Labor Government, which has clearly learnt from the mistakes of prior law reform failures. We thank the Working Group for what appears to be a genuine attempt to understand a diverse and complex industry.