Decriminalising sex work in Victoria an overdue win for public health
The decriminalisation of sex work in Victoria is a major win for evidence based public health policy.
The Victorian state government plans to decriminalise sex work in the state, recognising it as legitimate work that should be regulated through standard laws, like all other industries in the state.
Jules Kim, the CEO of Scarlet Alliance, the peak body for sex workers and sex worker organisations in Australia, said the reform was long overdue and consistent with the National HIV Strategy.
"This announcement is a major step forward. By decriminalising sex work, the Victorian government has sent a clear message that workers in the industry deserve the same rights and protections as every other worker. This will reduce the stigma and discrimination many sex workers continue to face, while improving public health," Kim said.
As part of the decriminalisation process, sex workers in Victoria will no longer be subject to mandatory testing requirements, a process Kim said was "unfair and discriminatory."
While the decriminalisation in Victoria is welcomed, reform is still needed elsewhere in Australia, to bring the entire nation in
"Victoria will become only the third jurisdiction in Australia to undertake such a reform, an important reminder for other states and territories to follow this lead," Kim said.
Australian Federation of AIDS organisations (AFAO) CEO Darryl O'Donnell said the reform was an important step for public health.
"Criminalising sex work is a proven failed policy which has increased stigma and driven poorer public health outcomes. By treating sex work as a public health issue and not a criminal one, we can much easily remove the barriers sex workers face in getting access to the health services they need," O'Donnell said.
"This is a measure which will strengthen our response to the HIV epidemic in Australia."
Executive Director of the National Association for People Living with HIV Australia (NAPWHA) Aaron Cogle welcomed the news.
"Criminalisation of sex work has historically hindered the public health response to HIV by driving sex workers away from prevention, care and support services," Cogle said. "The policy has not worked and it's long past time sex work was decriminalised across all of Australia."
