News (2019)
23 December 2019
Former longstanding Victorian Labor premier John Cain dies. In the 1980’s John Cain’s government led the world in sex industry regulation by legalising brothels.
Read more ABC News
17 December 2019
Victorian sex workers and supporters mark Red Umbrella Day with a rally on the steps of the Victorian Parliament and a gathering to hear Fiona Patten and sex worker rights activist Cheryl Overs. Red Umbrella Day is recognised globally each year to end violence against sex workers.
11 December 2019
Crikey.com.au quotes Sex Work Law Reform Victoria in article titled, “Sex workers are facing financial discrimination from our biggest institutions”
Read article on the Crikey.com.au website
6 December 2019
Australia’s only sex work radio show, Behind Closed Doors wins Best New Show at Melbourne community radio station 3CR. Sex Work Law Reform Victoria
Listen to Fiona Patten interviewed on ‘Behind Closed Doors’ discussing Victoria’s upcoming 2020 sex work inquiry.
5 December 2019
Fiona Patten and Lisa from Sex Work Law Reform Victoria interviewed on Australia’s only sex work radio show, Behind Closed Doors, to talk about Victoria’s upcoming 2020 sex work inquiry.
Listen to Fiona Patten Interview Podcast
3 December 2019
The Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 (Vic) is given royal assent and becomes law. The Bill seeks to amend the Sex Work Act by winding back FOI access to information pertaining to the regulation of sex work in Victoria. The Bill was first introduced in September 2019.
Read Consumer Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (Vic)
2 December 2019
Occupational health and safety consultant Kevin Jones blogs about WorkSafe, the sex industry and what the 2020 sex work regulation inquiry should consider from a OH & S perspective.
Read blog ‘Sex Work review includes many OHS matters’
30 November 2019
The Age newspaper publishes an editorial ‘High time to rethink sex worker laws’ in support of reviewing Victoria’s decades old laws. The article uses the terms ‘prostitute’ and ‘prostitution’ alongside ‘sex work’ and ‘sex worker’.
30 November 2019
Sex Work Law Reform Victoria attends the launch of Sex ’69, an exciting and innovative online project exploring Australia’s ‘underground’ Adult retail industry, starting in ’69 and evolving until today. A number of leading Victorian sex industry figures attend the official launch and are interviewed, including Lisa from SWLRV, Fiona Patten and Jane Green from Vixen Collective. Photos and video of interviews below.
Sex ’69 Launch Photos and Videos
30 November 2019
The Age quotes Sex Work Law Reform Victoria in article titled, ”Off the streets and on the net’: solicitation charges dwindle as sex workers shift online’
Read article on The Age website
28 November 2019
Debate resumes during a second reading of the the Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 (Vic). Opposition MP Gordon Rich-Phillips says the Bill is the result of an FOI request, and that the Bill closes a ‘loophole’ in the law which allows certain information to be obtained via FOI. Mr Rich-Phillips says there are no controversial elements to the Bill and that the opposition supports it.
For the first time in the life of the Bill, an MP questions the government’s lack of consultation with sex workers during the drafting and progress of the Bill. Crossbench MP David Limbrick criticises this lack of consultation. During Committee, David Limbrick further questions the representative of the Minister for Consumer Affairs in the Legislative Council, Adem Somyurek. Mr Somyurek says the sex worker group Vixen Collective has published a positive statement about the Bill and that the Business Licensing Authority was consulted. He goes on to provide some background, saying a VCAT (tribunal) case about FOI is what necessitated the sex work amendments in the Bill. The Bill was needed in order to tighten up the law as a result of tribal or court decisions. Sex worker’s safety was jeopardised, so rather than wasting time and consulting with sex workers, the government had to act quickly, Mr Somyurek added.
The Bill seeks to amend the Sex Work Act by winding back FOI access to information pertaining to the regulation of sex work in Victoria. The Bill was first introduced in September 2019.
David Limbrick (page 4507 of hansard, 28 November, 2019 Legislative Council)
28 November 2019
Victoria Police say sexual servitude and human trafficking not a major problem in Victoria’s illegal brothels.
Listen to ABC Melbourne Radio interview
27 November 2019
The Australian Associated Press article quotes Sex Work Law Reform Victoria in article titled, ‘Vic could fully decriminalise sex work’
27 November 2019
Sex Work Law Reform Victoria quoted in The Age article ‘Sex workers are sick of rapes, assaults and want protection’
Read article on the Age website
27 November 2019
Victoria launches sex work inquiry, a move towards decriminalisation.
26 November 2019
Victorian crossbencher David Limbrick reads in a sex work decriminalisation motion in the Victorian Parliament. He refers to Labor’s 2018 Platform on sex work. The motion is scheduled to be debated in early 2020.
26 November 2019
Northern Territory decriminalises sex work, becoming the third jurisdiction ever to do so. Sex Industry Bill 2019 (NT) receives 16 votes supporting decriminalisation and 5 votes against.
22 November 2019
Sex workers accuse police in Queensland of ‘entrapment’. Victoria has a similar ‘licensing’ system of sex work laws that compromise sex workers’ ability to implement safety measures.
Read News.com.au story
20 November 2019
Northern Territory Parliament tables a Sex Work inquiry ‘Inquiry into the Sex Industry Bill 2019′. The report quotes from a number of key sex worker organisation submissions, including Sex Work Law Reform Victoria.
19 November 2019
The Victorian Pride Centre lists Sex Work Law Reform Victoria on their website Directory.
14 November 2019
National Australia Bank treated me like ‘garbage’, sex worker says. Read news article on the Investor Daily website.
12 November 2019
The South Australian parliament votes against sex work decriminalisation. This marks the 13th unsuccessful attempt to decriminalise sex work in that sate.
23 October 2019
Sex Work Law Reform Victoria receives a Partnership Award from community health centre, Star Health. This award reflects our commitment to work constructively with community health and community legal centres in the advancement of our objectives.
18 October 2019
Liberal Democrats MP David Limbrick expresses his views on sex work regulation while being interviewed on Australia’s only sex work radio show ‘Behind Closed Doors’. Hear two sex workers interview Mr Limbrick on the ‘Behind Closed Doors’ podcast page.
17 October 2019
The representative of the Minister for Consumer Affairs in the Legislative Council, Adem Somyurek, concludes the first reading and Statement of Compatibility of the Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 (Vic). Mr Somyrek implies that the bill will confine inspection of the private sex worker register to police and other licensing officials. The Bill seeks to amend the Sex Work Act by winding back FOI access to information pertaining to the regulation of sex work in Victoria. At this time, no sex worker organisation was aware of the government’s intention to amend the Sex Work Act 1994 (Vic). The Bill was first introduced in September 2019.
17 October 2019
Minister for Consumer Affairs, Marlene Kairouz concludes the second and third readings of the Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 (Vic). The Bill is sent to the Upper House. The Bill seeks to amend the Sex Work Act by winding back FOI access to information pertaining to the regulation of sex work in Victoria. At this time, no sex worker organisation was aware of the government’s intention to amend the Sex Work Act 1994 (Vic). The Bill was first introduced in September 2019.
16 October 2019
Debate of the Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 (Vic) resumed on motion of the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Marlene Kairouz. The Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs, Neil Angus, delivers the second reading and confirms the coalition will not be opposing the Bill. A number of Labor MP’s speak in favour of the Bill. Lizzie Blandthorn says the bill protects the confidentiality of the details of private sex workers. Dustin Halse says the sex work amendments are ‘commonsense’. John Eren says the Bill clarifies who has access to the register of private sex workers. Katie Hall says the Bill is important for the safety of sex workers. Sarah Connolly said a ‘very recent’ VCAT decision regarding sex work and FOI created the need to protect the personal information of sex workers. She added that the electoral roll and census data could potentially be used in conjunction with FOI law to identify the personal details of individual sex workers. As a result, she said, people wishing to name and shame sex workers using FOI pose a risk to the dignity and respect of sex workers. Opinionated individuals should be prevented from vilifying and humiliating registered private sex workers, she said. As a result the government consulted with Victoria Police and the Business Licensing Authority in the development of the Bill.
The Bill seeks to amend the Sex Work Act by winding back FOI access to information pertaining to the regulation of sex work in Victoria. At this time, no sex worker organisation was aware of the government’s intention to amend the Sex Work Act 1994 (Vic). The Bill was first introduced in September 2019.
16 October 2019
Sex Work Law Reform Victoria makes a submission (#15) to the 2019 Northern Territory Economic Policy Scrutiny Committee in relation to the Sex Industry Bill 2019 (NT). We recommended amendments to make the Bill in line with the principles of the full decriminalisation of sex work.
September 2019
In response to media/social media reports that NAB discriminated against a sex worker, we met with NAB officials seeking clarification on their policy towards the sex industry. This resulted in a public statement from NAB:
“We absolutely do provide banking services to sex workers as individuals and have no plans to change this policy.
“However, NAB no longer banks brothels and escort agencies due to different laws and licencing requirements across states and territories. This is a risk based decision we have made to ensure we meet legislative requirements under the anti-money laundering and modern slavery laws.
“We encourage customers who work in the sex industry to contact us for more information.”
29 September 2019
Film students at Deakin University in association with SWLRV release a six minute documentary, ‘Men at Work’, about male Sex Work in Melbourne. The film tells the story of a young and determined male escort. For more information about this film, see the ‘Men at Work’ FaceBook page.
26 September 2019
Sex Work Law Reform Victoria delivers a speech and facilitates a Q and A panel with five sex workers for the Victorian Humanists. Details on the Victorian Humanist FaceBook page.
18 September 2019
Queensland Minister for Police, Hon Mark Ryan tables a new Bill (the ‘Police Powers and Responsibilities and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019’) which seeks to expand police powers and police regulation of Queensland’s sex industry.
18 September 2019
The Northern Territory Labor government tables a sex work decriminalisation bill, ‘The Sex Industry Bill 2019’.
Read Scarlet Alliance Press Release
12 September 2019
Second reading of the Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 (Vic) which seeks to amend the Sex Work Act by winding back FOI access to information pertaining to the regulation of sex work in Victoria. The Victorian Minister for Consumer Affairs, Marlene Kairouz delivers the second reading speech.
12 September 2019
The Victorian Minister for Consumer Affairs, Marlene Kairouz makes a statement of compatibility in relation to the Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 (Vic) which seeks to amend the Sex Work Act by winding back FOI access to information pertaining to the regulation of sex work in Victoria. A statement of compatibility states that a bill is compatible with Victoria’s human rights Charter. At this time, no sex worker organisation was aware of the government’s intention to amend the Sex Work Act 1994 (Vic).
11 September 2019
The Victorian government tables an omnibus Bill in the Lower House which seeks to wind back FOI access to information pertaining to the regulation of sex work in Victoria. The Bill, which seeks to amend the Sex Work Act, is introduced by the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Marlene Kairouz. The government failed to consult with any sex workers in the development of the Bill. At this time, no sex worker organisation was aware of the government’s intention to amend the Sex Work Act 1994 (Vic).
10 September 2019
Victorian crossbench MP David Limbrick of the Liberal Democrats calls out National Australia Bank in parliament for engaging in ‘financial discrimination’ against sex workers and sex industry businesses. Financial discrimination occurs when banks refuse to provide services to sex workers. It is a surprisingly common practise across Australia.
Some banks have been sending letters to sex workers notifying them that their accounts will be cancelled and they need to go elsewhere. I'm not asking the government to regulate this, but I'm happy to call it out. NAB, I'm looking at you.
Posted by David Limbrick MP on Monday, September 9, 2019
31 August 2019
Article uncovers first photo of Madame Brussels, the red light queen of 1880’s Melbourne. Historian reveals a vibrant brothel scene in 19th Century Melbourne.
28 August 2019
Disability rights group Disabled People’s Organisations Australia releases a Joint Position Statement calling on the National Disability Insurance Agency to develop a comprehensive sexuality policy to continue reasonable and necessary support for sexual expression through NDIS funding.
27 August 2019
Upper House MP Andy Meddick (Animal Justice Party) delivers a speech referring to murdered Sydney woman Michaela Dunn and the need to decriminalise sex work in Victoria. Mr Meddick expresses his support for sex work decriminalisation, saying it provides safer working environments for sex workers.
Read Mr Meddick’s speech in Hansard (page 27)
26 August 2019
British poll finds that more Britons support sex work law reform than oppose it. Rights Info, a human rights new organisation, releases findings from new poll.
21 August 2019
Sex Work Law Reform Victoria becomes an incorporated association and not for profit organisation.
31 July 2019
South Australian Attorney General introduces sex work decriminalisation bill for second reading in the House of Assembly and criticises sex work licensing structures, such as the licensing structure in Victoria:
‘Finally, I turn to regulation and licensing. I do not believe that licensing structures have a place in any debate around the decriminalisation of sex work. This view is shared by current licensed jurisdictions like New Zealand, New South Wales and Queensland, which, I have been advised, are progressing towards full decriminalisation. South Australia has the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of other jurisdictions and progress with a fully decriminalised model, yet one which enshrines advertising restrictions, protections for vulnerable persons, exit assistance and police powers.’
Read the full speech in Hansard
31 July 2019
Alleged racial profiling and discrimination against sex workers alive and well in New South Wales.
31 July 2019
Sex Work Law Reform Victoria makes a submission to the 2019 Victorian Economy and Infrastructure Committee as part of the Committee’s inquiry into the social and economic benefits of seeking to place disadvantaged jobseekers into sustainable employment.
Sex Work Law Reform Victoria’s Submission (see submission #38)
31 July 2019
California legislates to protect sex workers from arrest if they report violence.
31 July 2019
Alleged racial profiling and discrimination against sex workers alive and well in New South Wales.
11 July 2019
Tribunal orders disabled woman can spend NDIS funds on sexual services, but the judgement avoids the term ‘sex worker’. NDIS intends to appeal a decision it deeems ‘does not meet community expectations’.
2 July 2019
ABC News article about Queensland’s history of police corruption and entrapment. Queensland has a system of sex work licencing laws that, like Victoria, make sex workers less safe and more isolated.
29 June 2019
Sex Work Law Reform Victoria met with Andy Meddick from the Animal Justice Party, a party in the Upper House of the Victorian Parliament. As a result of our meeting, Andy Meddick made public his individual views on sex work,
‘I am governed by our Party Values, the most key of which is compassion. It is this over – riding commitment to this value that drives my support for the fundamental rights of sex workers. Should appropriate sex work decriminalisation legislation come before Parliament, I would be voting in favour.’
22 June 2019
What happened after Aussie sex workers were kicked off American websites? ABC technology reporter Ariel Bogle interviews Gala Vanting from Scarlet Alliance, Dean Lim from 3CR’s Behind Closed Doors, Estelle Lucas from Red Filesand the team from Assembly Four
21 June 2019
South Australian sex worker and academic Roxana Diamond writes about police corruption, her research and the details of the South Australian sex work decriminalisation bill
The Conversation Online Article
20 June 2019
South Australia’s Upper House passes sex work decriminalisation with minimal amendments
15 June 2019
News.com.au article ‘Kate Iselin: Inside the life of a 54-year-old street-based sex worker‘ by Kate Iselin quotes us in an exploration of street-based sex work and policing.
10 June 2019
‘New York State in the USA reveals a sex work decriminalisation bill’
3 June 2019
‘Mexico City gives green light to decriminalise sex work.’
30 May 2019
Article ‘This Sex Worker Who Was Sexually Assaulted Didn’t Think She Would Be Believed. Now Her Client Is Going To Jail’ by Gina Rushton.
21 May 2019
Brimbank City Council tables a report about the various options available to crack down on illegal brothels. One of the options is to hire private investigators to engage in entrapment operations in illegal brothels. Council decides that consultation is not applicable and endorses option 2, which is for council to resume hiring private investigators to enter and gather evidence in suspected brothels. See Minutes page 456.
21 May Council Minutes Page 456
1 May 2019
ABC Article ‘What sex industry workers think of One Nation’s Steve Dickson ‘strip club scandal’ by Gala Vanting.
27 April 2019
News.com.au article ‘Brothels on your street? How sex work decriminalisation would affect you’ by Kate Iselin quotes us in a discussion about sex work decriminalisation.
3 April 2019
ABC Article ‘Aussie sex workers hope legislative tide is turning in their favour’
2 April 2019
‘Northern Territory becomes latest jurisdiction to consider sex worker law reform’ ABC Radio show ‘PM’
30 March 2019
Northern Territory releases a Discussion Paper critical of Victoria’s sex work licensing laws and calls on the Northern Territory Attorney General to consider a form of sex work decriminalisation.
Download NT’s Discussion Paper
28 March 2019
Prominent sex worker’s rights activists Dame Catherine Healy and Julie Bates AO visit the South Australian Parliament calling for sex work decriminalisation.
28 March 2019
Article by sex worker critiques decriminalisation campaigns and the laws in place in New Zealand and New South Wales. By Nada Zenith DeCat.
23 March 2019
LGBTI organisations from across the world call for the decriminalisation of sex work.
February 2019
Sex Work Law Reform Victoria met with David Limbrick from the Liberal Democrats, a party in the Upper House of the Victorian Parliament. As a result of our meeting, the Liberal Democrats updated their policy on sex work so that it now reads,
‘No criminalisation of sex-work involving adults.’
19 February 2019
Brimbank City Council passes a motion to ‘ receive a report detailing options, including associated benefits, risks and costs, for Council to respond to the challenge of alleged illegal brothels operating in the City of Brimbank.’ See agenda item 13.1.
Link to 19 February 2019 Council Meeting Minutes
11 January 2019
SBS TV Documentary ‘Original Sin: Sex’
Chock full of quirky, provocative archival footage, and with insights from top academics like biological anthropologist Helen Fisher as well as standout celebrities from Andy Cohen to Margaret Cho, and Ann Coulter to Dr. Ruth Westheimer, this episode takes us on a rapid-fire survey of the technologies that have revolutionized our relationship to sex.
View on SBS Online (sign in required)
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