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WA Law Reform 06/07

The Proposed WA Legislation:

WA Prostitution Law Reform due to be passed this week, as Christian-right and anti-sex work "feminist" cmpaigners develop an unholy alliance to promote criminal sanction for clients

The law reform process in WA has taken more than 10 years of committees and community examination, but the Christian Democrats are trying their best to stop it in its last week of debate. The anti-sex work Swedish model of law reform (link for more information) is being lobbied for, but has already been dismissed by the protagonists of the bill, including Attorney General Jim McGinty. All gloves are off as the Labor government takes it on the chin for sex worker rights. Link to the ABC's Law Report investigation of the issues.

WA Prostitution Law Reform Working Party

A working party consisting of Parliamentary Secretary to the Health Minister, Sue Ellery, Labor MLA John Hyde, Greens MLC Giz Watson, Health Department sexual health program director Lisa Bastion, and a representative from WA Police, was formed by the Attorney General & Health Minister, Jim McGinty. This committee has recommended changes to the sex industry laws in Western Australia. The working partys' terms of reference include private sex work, escort and brothel sex work. The anti-street based sex work laws of 2000 will not be reviewed. This makes improving the laws a difficult task for the Government; police powers such as cavity search without charge, enter premises without warrant, entrapment laws, move on notices and restraining orders against sex workers, are all included in the 2000 Act. The committee visited New Zealand to learn about the laws for decriminalisation there. Our colleagues from the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective met with them.

Links

Updated 13 November 2006