Queensland Set to Decriminalize Sex Work
The laws are aimed at improving the safety of sex workers and reducing the stigma of sex work.
Queensland is planning to introduce new laws to decriminalize sex work.
The Criminal Code and Other Legislation (Decriminalizing Sex Work) Amendment Bill 2024 intends to decriminalize the sex industry and repeal existing criminal offenses related to the work.
The proposed legislation aims to move the industry into the same regulatory setting as any other business.
Enforcement of vice-type crime traditionally including drug offenses, serious assaults, and robbery has long been associated with the industry, and their enforcement by Queensland Police has been seen in some quarters as heavy-handed—perhaps fueled by the 1989 Fitzgerald Inquiry on Police Corruption which established a link between the thin blue line and the sex industry.
Current legislation does not allow for what the report deems “safety strategies for sex workers,” in essence, an ability for a worker to hire personal protection.
Sex workers plying their trade under the same roof as a co-worker is also currently illegal, potentially putting a solo worker at risk of violence from customers.
An independent review by the Queensland Law Reform Commission (QLRC) and commissioned by the government, was tasked with looking into decriminalization.
They considered the decriminalization of sex work in New Zealand, whose 2003 Prostitution Law Reform Act.
Lulu Holiday is the state coordinator of Respect Inc., an organization advocating for the safety of sex workers.
“Reforms like this bring about changes in community attitudes that break down the stigma and discrimination that sex workers face every day, including when accessing essential services. Decriminalization reduces barriers to reporting crime. The Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce recommended decriminalization to improve access to justice for sex workers.”
Queensland’s Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said the reforms will aid the sex industry in reducing its collective fear of prosecution and public ostracization.
“The proposed reforms to decriminalize the sex work industry will put in place proper regulation, so the industry doesn’t have to choose between working safely or legally. The legislation focuses strongly on the promotion of human rights and affording legal protections,” she said.
