Top 5 Myths About Decriminalisation

The Myths

The Facts

Myth 1

Decriminalisation will increase the size of the sex industry and increase demand.

Fact 1

New Zealand decriminalised sex work in 2003 and there is no evidence of an increase in the size of the industry.¹  ²

Myth 2

Decriminalisation will result in more human trafficking.

Fact 2

No evidence from New Zealand, or from New South Wales, which decriminalised sex work in 1995, indicates any increase in human trafficking

Myth 3

Decriminalisation will completely deregulate the sex industry, facilitating criminal involvement.

Fact 3

Decriminalisation does NOT mean complete deregulation of the sex industry. Existing business, council and tax laws would regulate the sex industry like any other.⁴

Myth 4

Brothels will proliferate in every suburb and pop up near schools.

Fact 4

Councils would continue to approve the location of brothels.⁵

Myth 5

Police will be locked out of brothels.

Fact 5

Police powers dealing with crime currently apply to all industries, and the sex industry would be no exception.

 

  1. Basil Donovan et al, The Sex Industry in New South Wales

A Report to the NSW Ministry of Health (The Kirby Institute 2012) Determination 1 on page vi

<https://www.nswp.org/resource/the-sex-industry-new-south-wales-report-the-nsw-ministry-health>

  1. New Zealand’s Prostitution Law Review Committee, Report of the Prostitution Law Review Committee on the Operation of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003  (New Zealand Ministry of Justice, 2008) 2.7 Committees Conclusion

<http://prostitutescollective.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/report-of-the-nz-prostitution-law-committee-2008.pdf>

  1. New Zealand’s Prostitution Law Review Committee, Report of the Prostitution Law Review Committee on the Operation of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003  (New Zealand Ministry of Justice, 2008) Page 167, Section 13 ‘Trafficking

<http://prostitutescollective.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/report-of-the-nz-prostitution-law-committee-2008.pdf>

  1. NT Department of the Attorney-General and Justice, Reforming Regulation of the Sex Industry in the Northern Territory Discussion Paper (Licensing Northern Territory 2019) Page 2, section 2.1 ‘Decriminalisation

<https://haveyoursay.nt.gov.au/44180/documents/100576>

  1.  NT Department of the Attorney-General and Justice, Reforming Regulation of the Sex Industry in the Northern Territory Discussion Paper (Licensing Northern Territory 2019) Page 6, section 5 ‘Australian Sex Industry Laws – How Each Australian Jurisdiction Regulates the Sex Industry

<https://haveyoursay.nt.gov.au/44180/documents/100576>

© Sex Work Law Reform Victoria 2020

Last updated: 29 March 2020