Historic sex work ‘exit’ scheme rejected

An Australia-first proposal that would have forced the government to provide assistance to prostitutes who choose to leave the controversial sex work industry has been knocked back.

The scheme, introduced by South Australian upper house Liberal leader Nicola Centofanti, would have forced the state government to arrange a series of “exit strategies” for sex workers, including the provision of education and training services, help in finding new accommodation and employment and assistance in accessing services from registered health and legal practitioners.

It would also have offered immunity from prosecution to prostitutes who request assistance to leave the industry and expunged their convictions.

Sex work, either its sale or solicitation, is illegal in South Australia.

“I think this would be huge step for those people within the sex industry who have told me they want to exit but have told me they don’t have those support services,” Ms Centofanti told NewsWire before the vote.

“This piece of legislation could lead the way and serve as a driver for other states to lead the way.”

But during Wednesday night’s debate, Liberal, Labor and Greens members of the Upper House expressed concerns about the bill and indicated they would vote it down.

Attorney-General Kyam Maher expressed concerns about the potential resource burdens on the government the bill might generate.

Greens Upper House Leader Tammy Franks said the bill “infantilises people” and “treats workers as criminals” and reiterated her support for full decriminalisation.

“Rather than spending convictions, how about we stop convicting them?” she said.

“That would be the progressive way forward.”

Liberal member Laura Henderson argued the bill’s immunity provisions moved South Australia too closely to a decriminalisation regime.

“I question how someone will prove they have left the industry and prove they will not go back,” she said.

Labor Minister Clare Scriven spoke in favour of the bill, referencing research that showed a majority of sex workers suffer physical and sexual assault, sexual harassment and post traumatic stress disorder.

“Resource levels would be entirely within the decision making remit of the government,” she said.

“It is a starting point for some of the most marginalised women in our community.”

The Upper House voted 11-8 to reject the bill.

Ms Centofanti proposed the scheme following an earlier failed attempt to reform the state’s prostitution laws along a “Nordic model” that would have decriminalised the women who sell sex but penalise the men who buy it.

“I’m not finished here,” she said on Wednesday.

“We need to do something, to help these women.

“We need to get something meaningful through our parliament. It is such an important issue.”