Sex workers

Scarlet Alliance, the Australian Sex Workers’ Association, recommends the full decriminalisation of sex work in every Australian state and territory, combined with anti-discrimination protections at federal and state levels as an essential component of improving human rights.

Decriminalisation includes:

  • The removal of police as regulators of the sex industry
  • Repealing  criminal  laws  specific  to  the  sex  industry  (including  laws  that criminalise  sex  workers,  our workplaces,  clients  and  support  structures)
  • Regulating  sex  industry  businesses  through  standard business,  planning  and  industrial  codes, and 
  • Not  singling  out  sex  workers  for  specific  regulation.

All jurisdictions should amend their anti-discrimination legislation to include protections for sex workers.

HIV and the law

Fore more information see Scarlet’s Human Rights homepage and The Principles for Model Sex Work Legislation.