NSW is able to enjoy one of the healthiest sex industries ever documented due to the decriminalisation of sex work in NSW combined with a free market approach, according to a report into NSW Health.

 

International authorities regard the NSW regulatory framework as best practice – the result of decades of partnership by government, community organisations, health workers and researchers, according to the report, The Sex Industry in New South Wales.

 

The report was launched by Mr Peter Collins, Minister for Health in the Greiner Government 1988-91 and the Coalition representative on the ground-breaking NSW Parliament Select Committee on Prostitution that reported in 1986.

 

Decriminalisation of the industry in 1995 led to a dramatic reduction in police corruption and sex worker exploitation.

 

There is still room for improvement. Many local councils routinely refused development applications for brothels, resulting in some brothels masquerading as massage parlours with poor occupational health and safety standards.

 

Lance Schema, Executive Director of the lead sex worker agency in NSW for HIV, STI and Hepatitis C education and prevention, Sex Workers Outreach Project said, “This report provides clear evidence to inform policy development. We commend the Kirby Institute for pulling together this report that will and should assist governments in developing future policies relating to the sex industry.” 

 

More information can be found here.