Attacking a Western Australian proposal to legalise brothels, the editor of Perth's Catholic paper says that the government should consider a Swedish model that decriminalises sex workers but criminalises their clients.

Peter Rosengren, editor of The Record newspaper, has attacked Attorney-General Jim McGinty's proposed prostitution laws, which would allow brothels to operate legally, Perth Now reports.

"The evidence we have indicates pretty comprehensively that in Australia and elsewhere around the world, when you simply decriminalise or legalise prostitution, you get an explosion in the sex industry," Mr Rosengren said.

"But one example, which almost everyone universally points to as improving the welfare and the status of women and girls, is the Swedish model.

"It has decriminalised the women and girls, and it has criminalised the clients who create the market, which helps take away that market and reduces the incidence.

"It has offered exit strategies to women trapped in prostitution because it destroys them.

"The victims are always the girls and women. They are, first and foremost, victims of sexual violence."

In the latest edition of the Catholic newspaper, he says prostitution is a form of slavery.

"The Record does not believe that you can put a dollar value on a woman or a girl,'' he said.

"Simply to decriminalise it is, essentially, to decriminalise slavery.

"You wouldn't apply that principle to anything else, like the manufacture of cocaine or heroin, or methamphetamines, or any other thing which is considered to be harmful to the individual."

Exit strategies, combined with a push to change police attitudes, should include tackling drug addiction and providing refuges.

He said the Prostitution Law Reform Working Group, whose recommendations were the basis of the Government's new laws, should not have discarded the Swedish option in favour of a decriminalised model.

In February, Mr McGinty announced the Government was drafting laws after the working group recommended a "minimalist, decriminalised model".

Brothel and escort agency operators and managers would be regulated by the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor.

Brothels would be subject to local government planning approval. Streetwalking and kerb crawling would remain illegal.

Link to original article

Link to "Sexworkers Critique of Swedish Prostitution Policy" by Petra Ostergren

Letters to the editor response to original Sunday Times article

"Punish or Perish" Sunday Times, letters to the editor, 18th June 07

When Paris Hilton was sent back to jail, bawling her eyes out, one could see she was finally about to comprehend the seriousness of her actions and would likely become a responsible driver from now on because she hated the consequences.

I now refer to "Church hits at sex laws" (TST June 3) in which the Catholic church wants the prosecution of male clients, not prostitutes.

Is it right for the church to be living in la-la land? Does the church not know these men have wives and girlfriends with children who struggle to make ends meet while these men are having it off with highly paid hookers?

When I donate money to the church, I assume it's contributing towards the education of a child in a Third World country. I do not want my donations wasted on creatures from hell who don't have scruples or a conscience and don't care if they break up a marriage.

Like Paris Hilton, they should receive a suitably severe punishment.

B GASPER-FERNANDES, Spearwood.