[hayleymumof3]

Legal in the A.C.T as well in fact we have a well known area that people go Oh thats where you can get legal hookers in "XXX" suburb there. I think it also helps that there happens to be a crap load of sex shops in the same area. makes me wonder what my friends get up to when they have visited here. .

I have lived here for almost 10 years and have only seen 2 brothels one near the post office in XXXX suburb and the other in the same suburb next to where my sister was working. I have yet to see any street walkers here.

[strawmoose]

However, the one that people often don't think about is if it is legalised, and they advertise a position and you are on Centrelink and looking ofr employment, you may be required to apply for that position/job.

Incorrect. It's illegal for brothels (in Victoria, at least) to advertise for staff.

[belindarama]

Can't be that hard to get planning permission, there are at least 8 within a few kms of my house.

I do live in Redfern though...

I definitely don't have a problem with it being legal. People have been paying for sex for a very long time. Better to regulate it.

[ForsakenTruth]

No I don't think it should. It undermines too many values of an advanced civilization.
In 2 of the worlds most socially advanced countries (Sweden and Norway) it is illegal and it is viewed in the same light as violence against women. For that reason, prostitutes there are not prosecuted but pimps and clients are.

[JRA]

What is interesting though, is that in states where prostitution is illegal, the argument is often that by legalising brothels, it will help clear up the illegal street prostitution. But you only need to drive down Carlisle or Gray Streets in Melbourne on a Saturday nigh to put paid to that theory.

But yes - legal and regulated to protect workers, as per Privileged.

Exactly. Carlisle and Gray have been like that for years and years, and as has been said, these girls would not be accepted in to a legal brothel because generally they are pretty sad health wise.

[caitiri]

No I don't think it should. It undermines too many values of an advanced civilization.
In 2 of the worlds most socially advanced countries (Sweden and Norway) it is illegal and it is viewed in the same light as violence against women. For that reason, prostitutes there are not prosecuted but pimps and clients are.

I disagree, Cause its early and im tired im just going to cut and paste from an essay of mine so exuse the references

Effectively under the Swedish model the role of client, operator and owner of sexual services is criminalised, whilst women who engage in prostitution (of themselves) are not seen as committing an offence (CATWA, 2001). Rather they are viewed as victims and referred to welfare services (ABC, 2007)......Forcing women into the disempowered category of victim seems contradictory when married with a feminist ideology. Janelle Fawkes the CEO of the Scarlet Alliance argues that by labeling all sex workers as victims CATWA is engaging in the ‘disbelieving of women’ a practice which CATWA members themselves have called non-feminist (ABC, 2007).

[caitiri]

and just adding that legalising prostitution can infact empower the workers by implying a) that sex can be legitimate work and b) that women have exercised some choice in embarking on a legitimate career path.

Furthermore many of the problems with legalising or decriminalising prostitutin stem from the bureaucracy created or not created to enforce the regulations not the actual law reform itself

[ForsakenTruth]

I disagree, Cause its early and im tired im just going to cut and paste from an essay of mine so exuse the references

Effectively under the Swedish model the role of client, operator and owner of sexual services is criminalised, whilst women who engage in prostitution (of themselves) are not seen as committing an offence (CATWA, 2001). Rather they are viewed as victims and referred to welfare services (ABC, 2007)......Forcing women into the disempowered category of victim seems contradictory when married with a feminist ideology. Janelle Fawkes the CEO of the Scarlet Alliance argues that by labeling all sex workers as victims CATWA is engaging in the ‘disbelieving of women’ a practice which CATWA members themselves have called non-feminist (ABC, 2007).

I am not sure how to put this and I am sure that there are many people on EB more educated than myself who can probably say this better, but...
Ever heard the saying 'the customer is always right'? If you are a prostitute that equals disempowered. The fact is once the doors close and it is just you and the client, there is very little to protect you. More than that the industry itself employs too many vulnerable individuals, be they desperate migrants, struggling mums or naive school girls and the fact is there is simply no way to regulate it properly to ensure exploitation does not happen.

[caitiri]

I think you expressed your opinion very well. IBut i disagree with the blanket statement that

If you are a prostitute that equals disempowered.

.

Not ignoring the fact that many women in this industry are exploited and vulnerable i just disagree that every woman is so and that women who choose to work within this industry should be either made to be criminals or pushed into a victim role.

There is a great transcript of what i beleive is the Radio show The Law Report with Damien Carrick. He spoke to Gunilla Eckberg, who was part of the driving force behind the swedish laws, and Janelle Fawkes who the CEO of the Scarlet alliance the Australian Association of sex workers. He also interviewed 2 women who had or were currently working in the industry. This program really illustrated that the reasons women work in the industry are just as varied as the women and you cant just say they are all empowered or they are all exploited.

IMO you also cannot just legislate against prostitution because of the difficulty in regulating and policing the industry. By making something illegal it just pushes it further underground where women are more easily exploited. By bringing an industry out into the open and making someone accountable for policing it you can attempt to make it safer and more transparent.

[ForsakenTruth]

IMO you also cannot just legislate against prostitution because of the difficulty in regulating and policing the industry. By making something illegal it just pushes it further underground where women are more easily exploited. By bringing an industry out into the open and making someone accountable for policing it you can attempt to make it safer and more transparent.

Not if those prosecuted are actually the pimps or the clients as it changes the balance of power.