The Reforming the Regulation ofthe Sex Industry in the Northern Territory Discussion Paper has beenreleased to key stakeholders and is online for public review.
The Paper explores issues faced by sex industry workers, regulators andthe wider community, and looks at options for possible regulatory reform.
It also includes an overview of regulations of the industry in differentAustralian and international jurisdictions to see what works and what doesnt.
Sex work is generally regulated under one ofthree models: decriminalisation, licensing and criminalisation. At present theNT has a combination of all three, which is inconsistent and ineffective.
The NT Government is considering options for aregulated but decriminalised model that ensures worker safety and rights
Under Northern Territory law it has never beenillegal to be a sex worker, and there is no proposal to change this.
The discussion paper can be found here: https://haveyoursay.nt.gov.au/regulationsexindustry
Quotesfrom Attorney-General, Natasha Fyles:
All Territoriansdeserve to be safe at work. Being a sex worker is arecognised profession in the NT, but workers have no protection and minimalrights.
Thats why theTerritory Labor Government is working on legislative reforms to deliver a saferand more sustainable framework for sex workers, their industry and the broadercommunity.
I have met withstakeholders to hear concerns about the Prostitution Regulation Act and theProstitution Regulations, neither of which have been the subject of majorreform or review since their introduction in 1992.
The safety of Territorians isparamount and this Paper looks at a number of issues, including ways we mightbe able to achieve safer working and health conditions for sex workers.
