Sex work is work, no matter which way you look at it. Workers in
the sex industry get paid for providing a service. And yet,
they're not afforded the same rights and protections as other
workers. Indeed, in many cases, they're criminalised, which
places them at significant risk.
In acknowledgement of this denial of citizens' human rights,
the Victorian government
has launched an inquiry into decriminalising the sex industry,
as the
current two-tiered state licensing model leaves many sex
workers classed as criminals, which leads to poor health and safety
outcomes.
A sign that the Andrew's government inquiry is likely to
have an impact is that Reason MLC
Fiona Patten is leading it. Her previous work led to the
establishment of the safe injecting room and
assisted dying laws, while as leader of the Sex Party she
fought tirelessly for sex industry reforms.
