The Victorian Government is inviting feedback from the community to inform the implementation of sex work decriminalisation reforms, including how the government can better work with and support the sex work industry.
Sex work in Victoria will be decriminalised through a suite of reforms to increase safety, reduce stigma towards sex workers, and achieve better public health and human rights outcomes.
The decriminalisation of sex work will:
remove offences and criminal penalties for consensual sex work in most circumstances. This includes abolishing offences for street-based sex work in most locations and repealing public health offences associated with sex work
remove the Sex Work Act 1994 Act and regulate the sex work industry through existing regulatory agencies
introduce related reforms to support decriminalisation. For example, planning, public health, and anti-discrimination laws.
Also, controls and restrictions on advertising sex work services will be reviewed.
Decriminalisation will remove licensing, approval and registration requirements for sex work service providers, brothel managers and small owner-operators to operate legally.
These reforms are subject to approval by Parliament. If they are passed, the reforms will come into operation progressively during 2022 and 2023. There are no immediate changes to obligations and requirements for sex work service providers, brothel managers and small owner operators.
Comments and submissions may be made up until 5pm on Friday 27 August 2021. To make a submission, visit Engage Victoria.
More information about the decriminalisation of sex work in Victoria can be found at vic.gov.au/sex-work-decriminalisation.
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