Campaign intensifies for Qld to decriminalise sex work
Image: More than 1,300 letters from individuals in the community calling for decriminalisation have also been sent to the offices of the Minister for Police and Attorney General.
Community organisations are throwing their support behind sex workers who are advocating for the decriminalisation of the industry in Queensland.
In August, sex worker advocacy group Respect Inc presented Attorney General Yvette D鈥橝th with a letter signed by 15 organisations calling for the government to commit to sending decriminalisation to the Queensland Law Reform Commission.
The letter, supported by organisations including the Queensland AIDS Council and the Sexual Health Society of Queensland, is the latest effort in an .
More than 1,300 letters from individuals in the community calling for decriminalisation have also been sent to the offices of the Minister for Police and Attorney General.聽
Criminalisation of sex work impacts the LGBTQI community, with around one in five queer men having been paid for sex, with same-sex attracted cis and transgender women also working in the industry.
In Queensland, safety practices such as working from the same premises as another worker are criminalised, forcing workers to choose between working safely or legally.
Queensland AIDS Council executive director Rebecca Reynolds said the evidence strongly shows that decriminalisation is best practice to keep sex workers safe.
鈥淭he fact that the current structure of our legal and compliance frameworks creates a barrier to safety and justice is of importance to all of us,鈥� Reynolds said.聽
鈥淪trong workplace laws that protect workers are essential and the same needs to apply for sex workers in Queensland.鈥澛�
Sexual Health Society of Queensland president Judith Dean said that decriminalisation will improve worker access to services and support.
鈥淚t is our position that the decriminalisation of sex work in Queensland is an important component of removing structural barriers to sex workers accessing health promotion programs, sexual health testing, and support,” said Dean.
In Queensland and some other states, and disproportionately target minorities such as migrant workers.
DecrimQLD campaign leader Janelle Fawkes of Respect Inc said there is wide support for sex work law reform, with many members of the public 鈥渉orrified鈥� to hear of police posing as clients to arrest workers.
Jules Kim, CEO of national sex worker body Scarlet Alliance, called the government 鈥渘egligent鈥� in its inaction on decriminalisation.
“The failure of the Attorney General to act means sex workers are forced to choose between working safely or legally every day in Queensland,鈥� Kim said.
鈥淚t is negligent of the Attorney General to allow the criminalisation of sex worker safety strategies, combined with police targeting, to continue. This should matter to the Palaszczuk government.鈥�
Trans sex worker Elyse Coles said she joined the campaign to stand up for other trans and gender diverse workers who have been 鈥渧ictims of Queensland鈥檚 failed sex work policies鈥�.聽
鈥淒ecriminalisation is very important to me because it will assist in removing the stigma, discrimination, and isolation that is perpetuated by the current framework and faced by many independent sex workers,鈥� Coles said.
What adults choose to do is there own business alone, not the governments or police business at all (so long as no one gets hurt or harmed since it is a victimless crime). Prostitution, cannabis, abortion and euthanasia should not ever be a crime! Prostitution is the worlds oldest profession and I can not believe that it is still a crime nearly 20 years into the 21st century! Stop controlling women’s bodies you ultra-conservatives please.