Angry Victorians Party - Score 'Poor'
Note: The page below has been archived and will no longer be updated. In the months leading up to Victoria’s state election on 26 November 2022, this page was updated and maintained to guide voters on the issue of sex workers’ rights.
On 26 November 2022, Victorians will vote in a state election. The Angry Victorians Party is registered as a political party to contest this election.
We give the Angry Victorians Party a ‘Poor’ rating when it comes to sex workers’ rights. Why?
The Angry Victorians Party was formed in 2022, and one candidate with a parliamentary voting record on sex workers’ rights. Candidate Dr Catherine Cumming has sat in the Upper House as an independent since 2018.
The Negatives
- candidate Dr Catherine Cumming, while an independent, was the only member of the Upper House to vote against introducing new laws which classify the non-payment of sex work service fees as sexual assault or rape.1
- candidate Dr Catherine Cumming voted against the Sex Work Decriminalisation Bill 2021 (Vic).2
- in parliament, Dr Cumming’s speech and remarks about the Sex Work Decriminalisation Bill 2021 (Vic), were ill informed, linking sex work to the spread of STI’s and HIV.3
- the party has no policy relating to sex work.4
Authorised by Sex Work Law Reform Victoria Inc., 79-81 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, 3182
1. On 30 August 2022, Dr Catherine Cumming was an independent member of the Upper House. She was the only member of the Upper House to vote no to the Justice Legislation Amendment (Sexual Offences and Other Matters) Bill 2022 (Vic). Clause 5 of the bill redefines sexual consent so that the non-payment of sexual service fees will be classified as rape or sexual assault. To see the voting record on this bill, see page 3139 of Hansard for 30 August 2022 in the Legislative Council.
2. See page 267 of the Legislative Council of the Victorian Parliament on 10 February 2022
3. See Hansard of the Legislative Council of the Victorian Parliament on 10 February 2022, and search for Dr Cummings speeches and remarks on the Sex Work Decriminalisation Bill 2021 (Vic).
4. See Angry Victorians Party’s Key Policy Focus
https://australianvalues.org.au/angryvictorians
5. The Angry Victorians Party has another candidate, Dean Hurlston who sits on the board of Ratepayers Victoria. We have not considered Mr Hurlston’s comments in the media about sex work, as on both occassions he was speaking on behalf of Ratepayers Victoria, rather than expressing his personal opinions or the opinions of the Angry Victorians Party. You can listen to Mr Hurlston’s 2020 podcast interview about sex work here.
Mr Hurlston’s comments in the Herald Sun can be read here.
6. On 19 November 2022, the media reported that Dr Cumming was being investigated by police for incitement, after she made public comments about the Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews. Three days later, the media reported police had chosen not to charge Dr Cumming with a crime.
This webpage is provided as a guide to help inform voters about how political parties and candidates have performed when it comes to sex workers’ rights.
Sex Work Law Reform Victoria is not affiliated with any political party, candidate, councillor or local government. Sex Work Law Reform Victoria Inc. does not endorse or campaign for any political party or candidate. We believe all political parties can potentially work towards enhancing sex workers’ rights and we encourage all political parties to take an ongoing interest in sex workers’ rights. We have never donated to a political party, candidate, councillor or local government. We have never received money from any political parties, candidates, councillors or local governments. We have never applied for or received grants from the Victorian Government or any local government. We are a registered not-for-profit organisation.
We are not a registered charity.
We understand sex workers have a wide range of views about politics and we respect diversity of views.
© Sex Work Law Reform Victoria 2022
Last updated: 15 December 2022