Statutes Amendment (Sex Industry—Exit Strategies and Spent Convictions) Bill

Second Reading Speech

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 5 June 2024.)

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (20:53): I rise today to indicate my support for the Statutes Amendment (Sex Industry—Exit Strategies and Spent Convictions) Bill 2024.

I wish to thank the Hon. Nicola Centofanti for her courage and her passionate and tireless efforts to address prostitution law reform in this place and commend her on bringing this new Bill to the Chamber.

Honourable Members may recall that I spoke in support of the Honourable Member's previous Bill and shared the disappointment with many that it was unsuccessful at the time. But we should never walk away from trying again for law reform that will provide practical support to help empower and protect vulnerable women in our society.

Many reports have shown that over 95 per cent of people involved are women. Of these women, approximately 80 per cent enter the sex industry due to extreme circumstances, such as financial distress, homelessness, addictions and abuse. Sadly, Indigenous women and women of colour are also over-represented in the sex trade.

Unfortunately, these women continue to be physically and financially exploited or coerced by their mostly male clients, and mostly male pimps or brothel managers. Many women want to leave the industry but feel completely helpless because they don't know how to get help.

These women need laws that will protect them and a tangible and practical pathway to exit the sex industry and be free to make their own decisions.

While I will not repeat all of my remarks from my previous contributions to the debate on the last Bill, I want to highlight the importance of the exit strategies and provisions outlined in this Bill.

It is vital that those who want to leave the sex industry can access a comprehensive resourced network of support and exiting services, including practical assistance that many honourable members who support the Bill already mentioned earlier.

Women seeking to exit the sex industry face significant and complex barriers, such as lack of social connections and trusted people in their lives, a lack of alternative income, the lack of a safe place to stay, coercion and threats of further harm along with profound feelings of shame and mental health challenges resulting from the trauma and exploitation they have experienced.

These barriers need to be addressed to provide all those who wish to choose a tangible pathway to exit the sex industry and be ready to make their own decision and have the opportunity to build a new life.

I would also like to thank Amanda Brohier, President of Women Ending Exploitation by Prostitution, and all the WEEP members for their insights, and for sharing information with me. I also thank them for their enduring advocacy for exit programs and strong support for this legislation.

In their latest newsletter, WEEP highlight a study undertaken jointly by the Sexual Exploitation and Research Program and Ruhama, an Irish NGO that offers support to women impacted by the sex trade. The study looked at women's journeys out of prostitution and the response to their complex support needs.

For most women, exiting is rarely a simple linear process, and for some it can take many, many years. The study found that support must be provided in a person-centred and non-judgemental way according to each woman's needs and wishes at the time she accesses the service.

This Bill proposes to provide exit strategies and a safe pathway out for those who would otherwise remain trapped in the sex industry. It provides a framework for real support that helps and empowers women to transition away from sex work if they choose to.

Once again, I would like to thank the Hon. Nicola Centofanti for introducing this Bill and the many, many women, individuals and organisations who have advocated and campaigned strongly for this Bill.

With those remarks, I commend the Bill.