A PARLIAMENTARY move to decriminalise sex industry work is not being supported in its current form by Liberal member for MacKillop Nick McBride.
The Sex Work Bill initiated by Greens MLC Tammy Franks was voted down by five votes in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.
Mr McBride said the Bill was a conscience vote for the Liberal Party.
“Although I did not vote in the chamber, my position was to not support the Bill,” Mr McBride said.
“I acknowledge there is a need for reform and I look forward to further opportunities for this to be delivered.
“I want to see changes made to ensure that exploitation of people involved in the sex industry does not occur.”
Meanwhile, Independent member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell voted for the Sex Work Bill in state parliament but fellow South Easterner and Labor frontbench MLC Clare Scriven did not.
Ms Scriven has welcomed the defeat of the decriminalisation as she claimed it “empowers pimps and brothel owners and further exposed vulnerable women to exploitation”.
Ms Scriven labelled its defeat as a win for South Australian women.
“This is a win for gender equality,” she said.
“The state parliament has rejected the bill that would have made it even easier for pimps to flourish and I am delighted that this bill has been defeated.
“The defeat of this bill means parliament will not accept the exploitation of woman in our society.”
Ms Scriven was one of four Legislative Council members, along with Treasurer Rob Lucas and Liberals Jing Lee and Dennis Hood – a former member of the conservative Family First party – who voted against decriminalising sex work during a conscience vote.
The defeat means brothels will remain illegal in South Australia, as well as public solicitation, procuring and receiving money from the prostitution of another.
