{"id":2626,"date":"2018-11-12T21:23:36","date_gmt":"2018-11-12T11:23:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/respectqld.org.au\/?p=2626"},"modified":"2019-03-20T12:19:08","modified_gmt":"2019-03-20T02:19:08","slug":"nov-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/respectqld.org.au\/nov-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201880% of us work illegally, so we can be safe\u2019, say Queensland sex workers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Queensland laws and policing practices unnecessarily endanger sex workers. \u2018S<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ex workers are forced to choose between working safely or legally\u2019, <\/span><b>Kayla Rose, sex worker and committee member of DecrimQLD said.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018Queensland criminalises sex worker safety strategies and allows police to pose as clients to arrest us for using safe work practices. At the same time, when sex workers try to report crimes we are turned away by police.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018I break the law every time I work so I can implement basic safety strategies, like texting another colleague to let them know I&#8217;m safe after a booking\u2019, <\/span><b>Kayla Rose said.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Decriminalisation would mean I can share overheads with a colleague, not feel so isolated and not be fearful of police raiding my workplace.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Queensland regulatory framework for sex work is broken. Evidence from New Zealand and New South Wales demonstrates why <\/span><b>decriminalisation is the solution\u2013the only regulatory approach that provides sex workers with access to industrial, health and work safety systems.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Queensland snapshot:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>80%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of sex workers are forced to work illegally in order to work safely<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>450%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> increase in sex work offences (2016\u201317 QPS statistics)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>30 years<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> after the Fitzgerald Inquiry police are still regulating sex work<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>$10M+<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> taxpayer funds spent on a regulatory body that regulates 20 brothels<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>95% <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of Queensland is without a licensed brothel<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>2 Queensland sex workers <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">recently won court cases, compared with New Zealand where decriminalisation of sex work has resulted in a <\/span>70% increase<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in crime reporting.<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018Decriminalisation is a cost-effective and efficient model of sex industry regulation that delivers such important public health outcomes that the NSW sex industry has been referred to as the \u2018\u2018healthiest sex industry in the world\u2019\u2019 by researchers\u2019, said <\/span><b>Cameron Cox, CEO, SWOP (Sex Workers Outreach Project) NSW. <\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018Decriminalisation means as sex workers we are subject to, and can access, the same laws, regulatory frameworks and protections as everyone else. People are misinformed if they think decriminalisation is an absence of regulation. In fact decriminalisation means greater transparency and workplace health and safety standards. When criminal laws and police powers are repealed existing laws can take effect. The sex industry is then regulated like any other industry\u2019, said <\/span><b>Jules Kim, CEO Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As early as 2009, Queensland Government-commissioned research by Anne Edwards warned: \u2018<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sex workers may be in a more precarious position now than they were when the legislation was first passed\u2019<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018Having sex worked pre-Fitzgerald I know for a fact that sex workers are not better off with the licensing framework\u2019, <\/span><b>said Candi Forrest from the DecrimQLD committee.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018For the majority of us it is no different, and in many ways it is now worse. The police regulation of the sex industry should have ended with the recommendations of the Fitzgerald Inquiry, but that promise hasn\u2019t been realised for sex workers in Queensland. Sex workers are calling for decriminalisation based on solid evidence showing the model works.\u2019 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018As sex workers we need the full decriminalisation of sex work, and the right to be regulated in the same way as other workers in Queensland\u2019, <\/span><b>Elena Jeffreys from Respect Inc <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">said today. \u2018The current regime of police entrapment, criminal penalties, fines and heavy restrictions on sex work in Queensland affects us all and also has a disproportionate impact on sex workers who are already marginalised. Research shows that migrant sex workers, male sex workers, trans sex workers, and private and brothel sex workers who have been the victims of crime are all disadvantaged by licensing. Only decriminalisation will remedy the imbalance.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018Queensland has had more than 18 years of this model and we have suffered its devastating effects on our community\u2019, <\/span><b>KiKi of Scarlet Alliance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> concluded. \u2018We will no longer accept being treated like second-class citizens. Experts from legal, health and industrial rights groups agree that sex work in Queensland must be removed from the Criminal Code and decriminalised, taking police out of the regulatory role.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018The evidence clearly shows that decriminalisation is the world-renowned, best practice model for sex work. Decriminalisation facilitates higher rates of compliance, minimises opportunities for corruption and exploitation, increases transparency of the industry and most importantly, improves safety for sex workers\u2019, said<\/span><b> Leanne Melling from SWOP NT.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">References<\/span><\/i><b><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Independent sex workers are criminalised under the Criminal Code 1899 (Qld) Chapter 22A. It is illegal for independent sex workers to implement basic safety strategies including: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">doing bookings together, sharing a workspace or working in the same building<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Checking in and checking out with another sex worker when a client arrives\/leaves<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">texting another sex worker about their current location<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">employing someone to answer phones or as a receptionist<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">using a driver another sex worker uses\/recommends, or<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">providing descriptions in advertising of the services provided. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As early as 2009, Queensland Government-commissioned research warned: \u2018<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sex workers may be in a more precarious position now than they were when the legislation was first passed\u2019<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sex workers are forced to choose between working safely or legally<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Edwards, A. (2009). <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Selling Sex; Regulating Prostitution in Queensland<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">].<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Police currently regulate 80% of the sex industry, contrary to Fitzgerald Inquiry recommendations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sex workers report significant barriers to reporting crimes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Queensland Police Service\u2019s own statistics show that the pursuit of sex work offences are mainly for the minor issues of implementing safety strategies, working in pairs, and non-compliance with advertising regulations (which increased by up to 450% in 2016\u201317).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Prostitution Licensing Authority reports 67% of police infringements were for advertising.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Zealand and New South Wales<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">demonstrate decriminalisation does not increase the size of the sex industry <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ministry of Justice, New Zealand Government. (2008). <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Report of the Prostitution Law Review Committee on the Operation of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003, p 41<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u00a0Donovan, B., Harcourt, C., Egger, S. &amp; Fairley, C. (2010). \u2018Improving the health of sex workers in NSW: Maintaining success\u2019, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NSW Public Health Bulletin <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">21(3\u20134): pp 74\u201377].<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research shows decriminalisation improves conditions for sex workers with 70% more likely to report crimes to the police,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with police and the justice system responding more effectively and more fairly when crimes are reported <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abel, G. M. (2014). \u2018A decade of decriminalization: Sex work \u2018\u2018down under\u2019\u2019 but not underground\u2019, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Criminology &amp; Criminal Justice <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14 (5): p 57, pp 580\u201392]. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/1748895814523024\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/1748895814523024<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The World Health Organisation, United Nations, Sexual Health Society of Queensland, Respect Inc and Amnesty International all support the decriminalisation of sex work<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amnesty International. (2016). <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amnesty International policy on state obligations to respect, protect and fulfill the human rights of sex workers<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (No. 30\/4062\/2016)]. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/documents\/pol30\/4062\/2016\/en\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/documents\/pol30\/4062\/2016\/en\/<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) recommends decriminalisation of sex work as it \u2018<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">would lead to fewer opportunities for exploitative working conditions, including human trafficking<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Queensland laws and policing practices unnecessarily endanger sex workers. \u2018Sex workers are forced to choose between working safely or legally\u2019, Kayla Rose, sex worker and committee member of DecrimQLD said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2297,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/respectqld.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/respectqld.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/respectqld.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/respectqld.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/respectqld.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2626"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/respectqld.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/respectqld.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2297"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/respectqld.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/respectqld.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/respectqld.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}