The latest common-sense campaign to decriminalize sex work in South Australia has failed, with the state’s Parliament voting against the bill this week.
The House of Assembly voted 24 to 19 to defeat the bill, in a conscience vote of all MPs.
The private member’s bill, co-sponsored by the Attorney-General Vickie Chapman and Greens MLC Tammy Franks, had previously passed the Legislative Council.
“Absolutely deflated but not defeated,” Ms Franks said.
“We have the most archaic laws in the country … It’s an abject failure for the Labor Party to say that they represent workers when today, so many Labor-right members in particular voted against workers.
“Decriminalization means that the laws of the land will apply equally and we’ll be able to step in, whether that’s a planning code, whether that’s a policing requirement, those laws will then apply.
“The Attorney-General was ready to sit down and discuss those, but what they’ve done today is that they’ve thrown workers under the bus. Sex workers have been sacrificed for their political games.”
It was the 13th attempt by sex workers and supporters to change the law in South Australia in the past two decades.
SA Premier Steven Marshall voted in favour, while Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas voted against.
Ms Chapman described the result of the vote as “disappointing”.
“I feel for those sex workers in our community who will still be treated as second-class citizens, and will still be able to be prosecuted for their work,” the deputy Liberal leader said.
“With the failing of this bill, sex workers are now still left in a position where their safety is at risk.
“We had an opportunity to remedy this but this practice will continue, without the protections in place which could have been provided.
“This Parliament has an important role to play in considering all laws, including difficult social reform issues. We should not shy away from having these conversations.”
