Queensland is planning to introduce new laws aimed at decriminalizing sex work in order to improve the safety and rights of workers in the industry. The Criminal Code and Other Legislation (Decriminalising Sex Work) Amendment Bill 2024 is part of a plan to repeal existing criminal offenses related to the work and regulate the industry like any other business. The new laws are intended to create new offenses regarding the protection of sex workers and strengthen their protection from unfair discrimination.
The proposed legislation comes as a response to enforcement of vice-type crime and the risks faced by solo workers who are currently banned from plying their trade under the same roof as a co-worker. An independent review by the Queensland Law Reform Commission (QLRC) and commissioned by the government looked into the decriminalization of sex work, including studying the success of decriminalization in New Zealand.
Lulu Holiday, the state coordinator of Respect Inc., an organization advocating for the safety of sex workers, believes that reforms like this will break down the stigma and discrimination faced by sex workers. The reforms aim to reduce the collective fear of prosecution and public ostracization in the sex industry while promoting human rights and legal protections. In summary, the new laws are aimed at creating a safer and stigma-free environment for sex workers in Queensland.