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If you are having any problems posting threads plz message Kate. since latest update we have had 6 members with problems, sorted those but yet to find the problem.
In a win for sex workers, the Victoria's parliament takes the first step to repeal the Sex Work Act, which will dramatically change working conditions for the sector.
I think so, TantraShiva. There are some potentially contentious reforms.
(1) DECRIMINALISING STREET WORK. Licences currently don't permit street work, but the licences are going to be scrapped. However, street work will still be prohibited near schools, churches etc. The purpose of the reform is not to encourage street work, but to make it possible for street workers to report harm without incriminating themselves.
(2) ENDING MANDATORY STI TESTING. Again, this is not aimed at discouraging testing but rather takes the following sort of factors into account: Mandatory testing reinforces an inaccurate stereotype of sex workers as a prime source of STI. This stigmatises sex workers which promotes discrimination against them. Sex workers have lower STI rates than the general public, and promotion of safe-sex practices works better than mandatory testing and reporting every 12 weeks (which is costly and an unnecessary invasion of privacy).
(3) REPEALING LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO USE CONDOMS. The reason given is that it is discriminatory to make it illegal for sex workers to do what everyone else is allowed to do (and is based on an inaccurate stereotype of sex workers as carriers of disease). This does not mean that sex workers will stop practicing safe sex. (I am concerned it may increase the pressure on sex workers from clients, and from some business operators, to offer unsafe sex; but ciminalisation of the sex worker is not the answer.)
(4) REMOVING OFFENCE OF DOING SEX WORK WITH AN STI. Again, the thinking is that if no one else is criminalised for this, why should sex workers be? Also, some sexual services can be safely provided despite the sex worker having a particular STI, yet currently that is an offence.
Here are some good sites to look at on all this for those who are interested:
www.abc.net.au
