MEMBER for MacKillop Nick McBride will support a Private Member’s Bill which will provide for the decriminalisation of consensual sex work.
The major parties have allowed their members to have a conscience vote on the legislation.
Moved by Greens MLC Tammy Franks, an amended version recently received the support of two-thirds of the Upper House.
Mr McBride said he was uncertain about when the Bill will come before the House of Assembly.
Ms Franks said the decriminalisation of consensual sex work was supported by the World Health Organisation and Amnesty International as well as many other human rights and women’s organisations in Australia and around the world.
“If it passes both Houses of Parliament, it will decriminalise sex work, prohibit discrimination against sex workers and provide sex workers with access to the same rights and protections as other workers,” Ms Franks said.
“It will also improve the health, safety and legal rights of sex workers.
“There are approximately 2000 sex workers currently operating in our state, many of whom work privately and are not employed by what is known as a brothel.”
